The Blackbirds Song

Chapter 25

I lay there watching Michael all night, until two guards rapped at the door to awake the convict. Mike had told me the night before, that his favorite part of all of this, was that he was officially innocent, that is, unless and until he is proclaimed guilty again.

He had to be treated with respect and care by the officers, and was made sure that no harm came to him. 'Sadly,' he said, though not sounding at all so, 'I still have to wear handcuffs in public.' I snorted so loud that I was afraid the guards were going to here. 

After Mike got up and went to the bathroom, one of the guards (with a rather bushy red beard might I add) placed the cuffs on him, and frog marched him down the hall to be processed, whilst I floated behind him all the way. 

'How long will this take?' he asked me, as his index finger was placed in the center of a weird looking machine. I was just as stumped as he was; they never gave me the chance to be set free.  

After exactly thirty seven minutes (according to their digital clock) Mike was placed back in the hands of the lumberjack-resembling guard, and was walking down and out of the building. As he was walking down the hall towards the exit, I followed, somewhat skulking behind him. 

What can I say? I did not fear death, but nobody on the planet knows what happens to you when you die. So, lets just say, for arguments sake,  I was nervous. I am pretty sure the nerves had caught up with Mike by that point, he was white as our linen sheets. 

Lumberjack marched Michael through the gate and off the property, but I stayed behind. It took a lot of self-discipline to get myself through that gate, but I did. Moments passed, yet nothing happened. I was free, free as a bird. Maya Angelou once said, 'The caged bird sings for freedom,' and this bird has been singing for quite a long time. But not anymore. Somebody had found the key and let me out, and I was free again. 

I went through the car door to join Mike, who had absolutely no idea what my relieved and joy filled face was for. He continued to stare at me in an absurd way, as if I had sprouted tentacles or something, all the way to the courthouse. But I did not care, I was a free bird now; and today was the first day of my life.