Exiting the imposing metal gates, the reality of my newfound freedom failed to sink in. Despite years of anticipation and dreams about this day, it unfolded differently than I had imagined.

I felt old more than anything. The day was a slow one, nothing more than I had expected. I had just left the processing office. The officer there was new, I hadn't seen him before.

"Good luck" he said with an eager smile on his face patting my back as I walked past him.

I didn't reply, I didn't need to. I imagined he was new on the job. The smile would not last too long here.

It was a lonely walk from the gates of the processing office to the exit door. Much longer than it should have been. I quickened my pace; I didn't want to be here any longer than I had to be.

My heart almost burst through my chest, the thunderous sound coming from the comms system was loud enough to make a man blind. It certainly didn't help that the place was as quiet as a graveyard.

I couldn't make out what was said or to whom it was directed but I couldn't take any chances, things had a way of always going wrong for me. I quickened my pace almost jogging at a point. Only then did I start to hear the footsteps behind me.

I was being chased down!

I should've stopped, but I was a free man, I knew it, surely there hadn't been a mistake, surely, I hadn't gotten the day wrong.

I started to run; the exit door was right in from of me. I wasn't thinking anymore. I stole a glance over my shoulder, no one was behind me. I returned my gaze, just in time to slam my face into the door. Luckily it wasn't closed, my pace was quick enough to propel me through the door.

I lay outside face up; my face was beginning to warm up from the sun beaming down, everywhere else felt cold. My ears were ringing but I felt no pain, the air was light and crisp, and more importantly, the air was free.

I lay there for several minutes, just outside the door still open behind me, by the time I got up I couldn't barely see a foot in front of my feet. It was all white. I didn't mean to cry but my eyes had other plans the tears came rolling down my cheeks. I closed my eyes, gently massaging the tears away with the base of my palms. After a while, I could see again.

I stood up, walked to the curb and sat just by it examining myself all the while, I had sustained only minor bruising to my arms and my left hand.

Letting out a sigh of relief I rested my forearms on my knees and buried my head between them.

I lifted my head; I had slept off. The sound of a car approaching had woken me up, it had come to a stop just a stop throw from where I was sitting.

My vision was still clearing but I could make out two individuals. The front door on the passenger's side opened and one of the individuals had got out and was now walking in my direction. It was a tall and lanky young man, with long limbs that seemed to stretch on forever he walked with a relaxed posture as though he had triumphed over life, free from any fears.

It didn't take too long for me to recognize who it was, switching my gaze for a brief moment I could also now recognize the car.

"Stretch!" PJ exclaimed.

"My man, what's good?" I replied as we embraced, the familiarity of an old friend providing a glimmer of warmth.

"I'm alright, my man," He responded.

"When did you get the braids" I asked examining his new hairdo. It was the only thing new about him since I had seen him a week ago.

"Shut up, man" he jokingly responded. "Lara made me get it; she said it gives my hair some struckcha"

"You don't say," I replied grinning.

"Eddie, I heard my mum say..." She was in the driver's seat, signaling for me to get into the car with her hands. She didn't look too different from two days ago when I had last seen her.

She still had her uniform and ID tag on. She had just got off work.

"Nurse Allison Miller" I read out in my mind.

As I got into the car, the familiar scent of the leather interior enveloped me. It had been quite some time since I had been in the old Civic. The engine roared to life, and we embarked on the journey home. The rhythmic hum of the tires on the pavement created a comforting backdrop, contrasting with the subtle tension in the air.

The drive home, only a couple of hours from the Pine Crest Detention Facility in Dale County, was enveloped in a quiet understanding. Fleeting glances and unspoken words punctuated the journey as familiar streets blurred outside. The soft glow of streetlights cast shadows on her face, revealing a mix of emotions—concern, perhaps relief.

Occasional small talk attempted to bridge the gap between the unspoken and the present moment. The hum of the car and the distant city sounds underscored our attempts at normalcy. It was a drive laced with the complexities of unspoken feelings and the weight of recent events.

As we neared home, the surroundings grew increasingly familiar. The car slowed, turning into our street. The headlights painted patterns on the pavement, casting an ethereal glow. The engine purred to a stop, and for a moment, the quiet lingered.

"So…" PJ broke the silence.

"I've got some errands to run for my dad, but I'll be here seven-ish"

"Oh, and here," he said as he handed me a small box.

"What's this?" I asked.

"It's a phone. Welcome back Stretch"

The house looked bigger than I remember, there were a few changes, but it was the same. It was home finally.

My room didn't look too different from when I last saw it, though it felt strangely more expansive than I remembered. The walls seemed to echo with the residue of memories, a tangible reminder of the time that had passed during my absence.

I dropped down into my bed, which like everything else felt way bigger than I remember. The quiet ambience of the room, once a refuge, now carried the weight of unspoken thoughts and the uncertainties of the road ahead.

As I settled back into the familiar surroundings, Mum's voice broke the silence.

"Eddie, I'm going grocery shopping." I heard her say from the hallway.

"Alright, I'll come along," I replied.

"Don't worry, I head off to work after that anyway." She was standing at the doorway now.

"Welcome back," she said with a beaming smile.

"I got some things I thought you might need" she said pointing at a box by the foot of my desk.

"Let me know if you need anything else."

The last time I remember Mum working double shifts was before my boxing days, those days used to be very tough. She would work extremely hard all day every day except for Sundays when she was at home.

I would try to support her wherever I could. I placed little demands and contributed as much as I could working the odd part-time job.

Panat's Boxing Cup represented my big break. I had never boxed a day in my life, but I knew I could do it. I was bigger, stronger, and much more athletic than most kids my age but most importantly I was angrier.

Embarking on the journey into the world of boxing turned out to be a surprising adventure, characterized by its peculiar beginnings and the curious glances of spectators.

My first few fights were eerily easy or at least I thought they were. It was certainly an unconventional trajectory, especially considering my status as a novice with no prior experience inside the boxing ring.

I scored four knockouts and five unanimous decisions. I, however, fell shy of a medal losing my last three bouts. They were too fast, too strong and way too experienced for their ages.

Upon reflection, it's somewhat surreal to think about how a sport known for its intensity and demands became an integral part of my life. The consolation prize of $15,000, a significant sum at the time, certainly alleviated some financial pressures.

Boxing after Panat's wasn't as easy, the opposition was tougher, the training was immense, and victories were few and far in-between but then there was school, going into high school I was alright, I was doing well but then I lost it all, over a single week I lost all I had.

Yet, as I ponder on that period, it becomes evident that those occurrences unfolded three years in the past, and much had evolved since then.

"I have to get my life back on track" I managed to say under my breath as I struggled to get to my feet.

"I heard the front doors close and the car start up". Peeking outside the window I saw the car pull out of the driveway.

I steadied myself against the wall and reached for the box on the desk.

The phone PJ had given me didn't come as much of a surprise; we had talked about it before.

We had talked about a lot before today, him and me.

He was my only friend, so I had come to painfully realize during my time away. Everybody seemed to eventually move on with their lives, some faster than others, but he was there. He had always been, but not much longer.

PJ was an excellent student, for as long as I had known him, he had ridden on a scholarship.

The situation was no different now, he had been offered a full ride to study at Penn State and he was to leave in a couple of days.

Distracting myself from my thoughts, I realized that the phone had already been set up, old contacts, old messages, old pictures, all just about three years old now.

I managed to steal a glance outside my room window, one of the rare luxuries I had missed. The orange glow from the sunset beamed in a straight line along the horizon. It was getting late.

PJ would be over soon with an envelope I suspected. We had planned this day out. We had talked about Chesher-Peak High.

"Beggars can't be choosers Eddie" I remembered him say several weeks back.

"Plus, it's a really good school and you should be glad they're considering you know, with all that's happened…"

"Yeah, how did you manage that again?" I replied. Browsing through the brochure.

"Mr. Bertram wrote a referral. It wasn't too bad actually" he continued now looking to my right.

He seemed rather uncomfortable about something.

"Shocker!" I said suddenly, looking him straight in the face, almost as If to call his attention back to me.

Mr. Bertram was the guidance counsellor. He was also Lara's Uncle and Lara was PJ's girlfriend so somehow it all made sense to me.

"I mean of all the faculty he must have known you best, all those therapy sessions you guys had and all" he said with a grin on his face.

"Hey, look at me It's all about letting it all out and manifesting positive energy so everyone else can see your light, 'cus I see you right now. " I said, mimicking Mr. Bertram with an uncanny impression.

His laughter was interrupted by the loud buzzing sound emanating from the speakers. The doors started to open.

"Listen, man. This is a good school" he announced as he unshuffled his feet.

"Yeah, it's only in another town. Far, far away. No biggie." I said handing him back the brochure.

"But that's exactly what you want Stretch, new town, new life, new start" he replied as he began to rise.

"Think about it man, it's a good shot, probably the best you'll get right now" he continued, completely rising to his feet this time.

"Stay safe. Stretch"…

The sudden vibration of the phone caught my attention.

I lay back down on the bed.