“Well, in this case, that’s a great thing.”
THREE
8years.4months.
Each day, a new strike was marked in my memory, ensuring I’d never forget how much of my time I’d given to the system. As much as I wished it could all be erased the second I pushed the large green door open and was met with sunlight, I knew it was impossible.
Every day that I’d spent behind the wall was a necessary part of my journey that I didn’t regret. I’d do it again and then once more if it still meant protecting my gem. It was whatever when it came to Lyric. Always was and always would be. She was the only person I’d lose my cool over, and I’d done exactly that thenight I shot her ex down in the middle of the pavement like the dog he was.
Ennnnn.The gate ahead of me buzzed as I neared it. Every few feet was another obstacle that made it harder for prisoners to escape their reality. Niggas were inside fighting for their freedom and it was only a few taps of a motherboard away. Some would never see the day while those who did would never leave the same person they’d come.
Ennnnn. A second gate opened as I stepped closer. It was the only thing standing between me and the rest of my life. Once I was from behind it, they’d never get me behind another. That was, without a doubt, and the one thing I was certain of.
The air on the other side of the gates was different. As I inhaled and welcomed my freedom, it became a bit more obvious. The contaminated, depressive oxygen they were feeding us inside was more apparent. I pushed it from my lungs and invited the freshness to enter.
“LUCA!” I heard in the distance.
The voice was a familiar one, one that made my heart burst at the sound of it. Though it had matured after so many years of not communicating vocally, its peculiar notes were still recognizable. No matter how much time got between us, her entirety would always be etched on the inside of me. I knew her by heart and that was putting it lightly.
During my stay, I’d decided to avoid unnecessary contact with the outside world. It only made time harder. Aside from a letter to Lyric every six months to let her know I was well and thinking of her, we’d only spoken four times over the last eight years.
One was when our mother beat cancer. Another was when our grandfather passed away. The third call was for a wellness check that Laike forced out of me because Lyric was taking myabsence and silence hard at one point. The final call was to congratulate her on getting her real estate license.
She could do anything she put her mind to as far as I was concerned, but I still wanted her to know how proud of her I was. Since, she’d been making moves and building her portfolio. Laike’s knucklehead ass wasn’t having my silence. He’d managed to find a way to get in contact with every cellmate that I’d ever had and get them a cell smuggled inside. There wasn’t a moment he needed me I wasn’t a call away. The only stipulation was never mentioning it to anyone in our family that we were in constant contact.
“LUCA!” she screamed, headed in my direction.
My Lyric. She was a pleasant surprise. With Laike being the only one who was supposed to have knowledge of my release, I was excited just considering the look on her face when I popped up on her in Channing. Hers and my parents, but that nigga had obviously flipped the coin and it was me who had been set up.
As she obliterated the space between us, my heart rate sped as my head began to throb from the rapidness of my thoughts while trying to comprehend the moment. Seeing Lyric made it real. Lyric running in my direction meant that shit was behind me.
“Luca!” The tears that streamed down her face were visible as she jumped into my open arms, wrapping her legs around me.
“Luca.” Lyric cried. “Luca. You’re home.”
“I’m home,” I assured her, still not believing it myself.
She was light as a feather in my arms, squeezing my neck as if I’d disappear at any minute. Her wetness stained my cheeks as she wept into my shoulder. Allowing her the moment, I stood in place swaying her from one side to the other. Even at thirty, she was still my baby girl. It wouldn’t ever change.
“I missed you so much.” She clung to me.
“I missed you, too, Lyric.”
“OK. Let me down so that I can get you as far away from this place as possible,” she demanded.
I obliged, lowering her tiny frame to the ground. She utilized her skin as a napkin to clear her face of her tears of joy. When she felt like she’d gotten herself together, she grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers together then pulled me closer to her ride.
“I hope you don’t mind. I brought my friend along for the ride,” she revealed as we reached the Rubicon that I was certain Laike had everything to do with.
“Nah. It’s cool. I’m just glad you didn’t have to make the drive alone.”
“We came last night and stayed about forty minutes away. We had a very long night, and she’s fallen asleep. She needs the rest, so please don’t make too much noise.”
“Didn’t plan on it,” I confirmed.
“And I need some rest, too, so you’re the driver.”
“Aight,” I agreed, knowing that would be the case anyway when I saw her running from a distance.
