HARD LIFE

ROCK BOTTOM

The light seemed almost blinding as Tremaine slowly opened his eyes. Everything was a blur and his head pounded like a hammer against a nail. "Where am I?", he murmured to himself.

"HaHa. You're in jail dawg", a voice suddenly added from behind followed by a teasing laugh.

Surprised, Tremaine rubbed his eyes and turned around, squinting his eyes in an attempt to get them focused. "Who are you?".

"I'm your cellmate. Welcome", the voice replied, "You've been out cold all night. The cop brought you in at around eight last night, but now that you're awake we can have some fun".

Tremaine continued rubbing his eyes until the blurriness faded and he was able to see. He realised he knew this man with a sinister smirk sitting in the corner. He was bald, of dark complexion, medium height, heavy built and was covered in tattoos. He was one of the local gang bangers well known as Tank. Recognizing who it was his heart sank and fear took over. Tank was notorious for robberies, shooting and even murders. Not to mention rumor that when he kills, he decapitates his victims and throws the remains to his dogs.

Tremaine felt that he had finally hit rock bottom, it couldn't possibly get any worse. He was in prison after all. For a moment his fear was absent and depression took total dominance over his mind, body and spirit. An empty shell of nothing, but regret and self pity. Then a thought came to him " Once you've hit rock bottom, there is nowhere else you can go but up". He then had a faint smile.

" You can be my lap dog, Ruff Ruff!!! Hahaha. Yea we're gonna have some real fun.", Tank teased while getting up and walking towards him.

Tremaine quickly sprung to his feet but was cornered on the bars of his cell and his mind was overflowing, "What should I do? Should I fight or just take what's coming head on?".

Before he made his decision a voice bellowed, "Tremaine McDonald you've been granted bail. Lets go". The guard opened the cell and Tremaine bolted out.

The guard led him to the front desk. "Who posted my bail?" Tremaine asked, then the guard looked to his left and Tremaine's eyes followed. Then their gazes met.

Tremaine was overjoyed and speechless. her short black hair, dark brown eyes, light complexion and smiling cherry lips gave Tremaine a moment of happiness. He stood their motionless while she walked over, put her arms around him and said softly in a comforting and soothing voice, " It's okay little brother, I came as soon as I heard." She then put her hands on his cheeks and looked into his eyes. "Why don't you stay out of trouble? It is still like when we were kids, you get in trouble and I bail you out". She said with a small giggle but then the smile faded and she asked "How are you?"

"I'm fine. I just need to get out of this place." He said with watery eyes. " I missed you Ashley, where you been?"

"That's a story for later, let's go to my place" she replied leading him out the door.