The Bars
I looked inside and could remember how it felt looking out. It was so different finally being outside, now being allowed to go wherever I wanted at any time.
I hadn’t been guilty, but no one, not even the lawyers had been able to prove my innocence. I spent my time in jail being a model prisoner. I knew I had to try to get my life in order once I got out. I knew the person I wanted to see above all, probably didn’t want to see me.
I wandered down the road to head for my parent’s home. I knew they would welcome me with open arms. They never believed I, their only son, was guilty. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I looked up at my parents’ home and turned around. Across the road I saw the house I had lived in since getting married. Where I started my life with Lily. I saw the roses by the front door had grown since I saw it last. I smiled as memories came back.
Lily loved roses so I planted her some in our first year of marriage. It wasn’t until my son Logan was born that they had bloomed. It was as if they were waiting for Lily and Simon to have a child until they would flower.
Every morning that there was a rose I would pick one and lay it on Lily’s computer before he left for the day. She would see it and thank me for it when I got home.
Now it was time to go home. Home to his family. Lily, Logan and now Shawna. I had to be content to only see a few photos of his little girl. But soon I would see her face to face.
I was about to turn when the door opened and out ran a little girl. She stopped and turned her head full of curls to the side to look at me. Following her was a woman, that said, “Don’t forget your coat.”
I knew her anywhere, it was Lily. She stopped and her green eyes opened and stared at me. Those were eyes I knew so well, the ones I had dreamed about every night in jail. The eyes that misted up with tears when I had proposed. Eyes that I could read so well, at least I used to.
Lily crossed the road, and said “what are you doing here?”
“Lily, I am back. Early parole, aren’t you happy to see me?”
“Si, you can’t come back. Logan and Shawna always ask about their daddy. I have said you have gone away and you weren’t ever coming back. I never thought you would be released. The case was so strong against you.”
“But I am released Lil. Aren’t you happy? Look I am not going to pressure you to see me. You never came to see me in jail so I understand.” I never thought I would ever say that to the woman I loved.
“The reason I never came was I just couldn’t see you locked up.” Lily was letting tears fall.
“Lily, can I be a daddy again to Logan and Shawna. Can I be a husband for you?”
“Simon, I doubted your innocence yet you still want to be with me?”
“Lily, I know deep inside you love me, you always have. Never will I forget the experience of being in jail, behind the bars that kept me from you.” I almost shivered from the memories which I never wanted Lily to know.
I put my arms around her shoulders “It made me realise what is important. Lily, never let the bars of our life ever separate us.”
I hadn’t been guilty, but no one, not even the lawyers had been able to prove my innocence. I spent my time in jail being a model prisoner. I knew I had to try to get my life in order once I got out. I knew the person I wanted to see above all, probably didn’t want to see me.
I wandered down the road to head for my parent’s home. I knew they would welcome me with open arms. They never believed I, their only son, was guilty. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I looked up at my parents’ home and turned around. Across the road I saw the house I had lived in since getting married. Where I started my life with Lily. I saw the roses by the front door had grown since I saw it last. I smiled as memories came back.
Lily loved roses so I planted her some in our first year of marriage. It wasn’t until my son Logan was born that they had bloomed. It was as if they were waiting for Lily and Simon to have a child until they would flower.
Every morning that there was a rose I would pick one and lay it on Lily’s computer before he left for the day. She would see it and thank me for it when I got home.
Now it was time to go home. Home to his family. Lily, Logan and now Shawna. I had to be content to only see a few photos of his little girl. But soon I would see her face to face.
I was about to turn when the door opened and out ran a little girl. She stopped and turned her head full of curls to the side to look at me. Following her was a woman, that said, “Don’t forget your coat.”
I knew her anywhere, it was Lily. She stopped and her green eyes opened and stared at me. Those were eyes I knew so well, the ones I had dreamed about every night in jail. The eyes that misted up with tears when I had proposed. Eyes that I could read so well, at least I used to.
Lily crossed the road, and said “what are you doing here?”
“Lily, I am back. Early parole, aren’t you happy to see me?”
“Si, you can’t come back. Logan and Shawna always ask about their daddy. I have said you have gone away and you weren’t ever coming back. I never thought you would be released. The case was so strong against you.”
“But I am released Lil. Aren’t you happy? Look I am not going to pressure you to see me. You never came to see me in jail so I understand.” I never thought I would ever say that to the woman I loved.
“The reason I never came was I just couldn’t see you locked up.” Lily was letting tears fall.
“Lily, can I be a daddy again to Logan and Shawna. Can I be a husband for you?”
“Simon, I doubted your innocence yet you still want to be with me?”
“Lily, I know deep inside you love me, you always have. Never will I forget the experience of being in jail, behind the bars that kept me from you.” I almost shivered from the memories which I never wanted Lily to know.
I put my arms around her shoulders “It made me realise what is important. Lily, never let the bars of our life ever separate us.”