𝙉𝘼𝙍𝙐𝙃𝙄𝙉𝘼 𝙄𝙉 𝙋𝙊𝙎𝙎𝙀𝙎𝙎𝙄𝙊𝙉

Ch/52 *LAST CHAPTER*

*10 Years Later*
xxx
"You've been doing a great job with them." He smiled shyly at his boss.

Some people from the rehabilitation center and the psychiatric would visit a prison and speak about their experiences in overcoming challenging situations.

Naruto was popular with the guys who had the same thoughts he used to have but hearing his testimonies put some of those bad feelings to rest. "Would you like to go out for a drink?" He smiled softly and stepped back from her. "I don't-" She didn't back down. "Dinner?" She kept moving closer to him and he kept backing away. "Well..." She offered something else. "How bout movies?"

He sighed. "Listen, I haven't been with a woman in the past 8 years. I'm just not looking for anything serious right now, and I don't have a clue when that'll change."

The blonde woman pouted. "Aww, alright." She whined. "Fine... but you have to let me give you a raise, you've earned it." She stood on her tippy toes and kissed him on the cheek.

He waved her goodbye with a warm smile once more and then he pulled out his phone to check the Uber. When he saw that it was 2 minutes away, he put the phone back in his pocket. A black truck pulled up and Naruto got inside. "Taruno?" His new name was called. "Yes." When the driver confirmed his address Naruto nodded, and then he drove off.

"Would you like to listen to anything?" Naruto looked out the window as he silently sat in the backseat. "No thank you." The man continued driving & 5 minutes later they stopped at a red light. Naruto turned his head and gazed at the letters hanging in the rearview mirror.

MH<3

"That's an interesting necklace." The driver snapped his head in the direction of the reflection in the rearview mirror. "Excuse me?" Naruto looked at him as well but he couldn't see his eyes due to the black cap covering them. "The initials." He pointed to the necklace & the driver snickered.

"Oh, that... It's just something I keep."

Naruto hasn't had companionship in a long time. He forgot what having a girlfriend was like... or maybe he never had 1 at all.

"Being in a relationship must be nice." The driver turned his attention back to the road. "I wouldn't know." Naruto raised both his brows. "You're single?" The man nodded. "Going on 12 years now... She died." A pulse skipped in Naruto's chest but he didn't know why.

"I'm sorry to hear that..." He leaned back in his seat and started to look out the window again. The ride got intensely quiet for a few moments until the driver spoke again. "You know sometimes... I go out in the middle of the ocean and... I just stare with my eyes."

Naruto's body got a little stiff and the feeling of his heart sped. "I always make sure to bring extra cold pops and real sugary funnel cakes."

He started to shift in his seat and the driver noticed. "What's wrong? Sugar and pop make you uncomfortable?"

Naruto took a deep breath before answering. "My... psychiatric says those words aren't good for my memories." The man in the driver's seat came to the last red light. "You need to get yourself another 1 because there's nothing wrong with those words."

He gave off a half smile. "You must think I'm crazy now..." The driver silently shook his head. "Sorry... I don't know why those words always put me in a weird mood."

They pulled up at his house. "It's okay... have a nice night." The driver sent him off and Naruto returned the friendly gesture. "Same to you."
xxx
Naruto was taking his pills in the kitchen of his small apartment. He was getting ready for bed when he heard a thud outside his front door.