I've been taken

I love you too

"And here you are." The man says. He presses a button and the gates open slowly. 

It's been 5 years since I first got arrested. I'm twenty seven now, which seems pretty crazy. Prison really was crap when I got in. Feeling people sneering at your back every time you turn around. Scared to talk to anyone, because you were sure they'd end up gutting you in the corner when no one was looking.

Yup, that was prison for you.

I walk towards the gates and the officer nods at me, silently saying goodbye. I nod back and finally step away from the gate. He presses the button once more and the gate closes. That's it. I'm free. I should be happy, shouldn't I?

Not really. I feel a bit lost now. I don't know where I'm going to go. I don't know how I'm going to start all over.  The people there told me if I had a place to go. I lied.

But I just couldn't stand to be in there one more minute, I wanted out. But now that I'm out, all I want is to be huddled in some corner again. Can I not face life anymore? I have no idea what I'm even doing. I sigh and adjust my shirt. They washed my clothes that I had on the day I had arrived at the prison and they gave them back to me. I'm happy about that. But it feels odd wearing normal clothes. I'm so used to seeing myself in that orange jumper. I grimace. I hated that orange thing, it was just another reminder that I was actually in prison. That none of it was a dream. But I'm out now, so I should just forget all about that. 

I walk down the sidewalk, getting farther and farther from the dull prison. 

After maybe an hour and a half of walking I sigh. I finally reached a town. Not a town, the town I was in before I was sent to prison.

I look around, remembering all the little shops. I go over to a bench and sit down. "Figuring out my life might be slightly harder then I thought." I mutter to myself. I mean, thinking of it is depressing. I have no car, no job, no house. No family to call. I groan and slump back into the bench. Looks like I might be camping like some homeless person until I get a job. How fun.

I stand back up and decide to continue walking around. After all, I have nothing better to do. I round the corner and drag myself on and on. Some lady turns to stare at me.

"Hey... I remember you."

I stop and look at her.

"What?"

"You.." She taps her chin. "Didn't you go to jail? I saw you on the news."

I grimace.

"Yeah... I got out though. No harm from me, just... you know. Rediscovering this place again."

She nods slowly and smiles. "Okay, well. God bless and have a nice day."

I nod and smile back.

At least she didn't spit at my shoes and call me a disgrace to god or anything. I throw my hair in a pony tail as the sun beats down on my face. Jesus, on all days it has to be today when the sun decides to show it's face?

I spot a library and walk in.

A old lady looks up as the bell chimes. She smiles and fixes her glasses, greeting me and then looking back down at her book. I bite on my lip and turn into a aisle of books. I run my fingers over the spines and then stop on one. I grab it and find a chair. I curl into a comfortable position and just read. It's quite relieving. I feel normal. I finish the book and look up, just to notice how dark its getting. The sun is going down, but the sky is still lit by a soft orange glow. I sigh and stand up, putting the book in its proper place and waving at the woman before leaving.