AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I need to relearn how to walk without being shackled because being bound has been my norm for ten years. Freedom is now the foreign world I need to once again learn.
We walk slowly as I take it all in. Officer Grenham opens a door, and a parful woman dressed in an expensive-looking trouser suit stands when we enter. Darcy Duffy has grown. As we all have, I suppose. I’m still finding it difficult to wrap my head around it. I’m expecting to see the people of my past as I remember them, as I left them ten years ago.
But we’re not those people anymore.
“Punky. Oh my God, yer face,” she says, staring at me, her shock clear.
“Bout ye?” I reply, not sure what to say because a simple thank you seems so inadequate.
My curt response clears her emotion, making way for why she’s here.
“Please, sit.” She gestures to the plastic chair at the table. I do as she says.
Her hands tremble as she rummages through her brown leather briefcase. Is she nervous? Or afraid?
When she finds what she’s looking for, she slides a piece of paper across the table. “I just need ye to sign this document. It’s the terms of yer release. We can discuss anything if ye have any questions once y’ve read it.”
She offers me a pen, and it rests heavy in my hand as I accept it.
Once upon a time, this would have been an extension of me as I used to love to draw, but now, I can’t even remember what that feels like. I can’t imagine sitting in front of a blank canvas and drawing what’s inside my mind because all that’s in there is blackness.
“I don’t need to read it,” I state, signing along the dotted line.
“Oh,” she says, surprised as I slide the document back to her.
I know I make Darcy uncomfortable. I don’t know what she’s expecting. A happy reunion, maybe? But this is my happy face.
She clears her throat before signing under my signature. “All right. We’re done then. I’ll file this with the appropriate parties, but now, yer a free man.”
If Darcy is expecting tears or some sort of emotion, she’ll be waiting a long while.
Nodding, I come to a stand, watching the way Darcy’s chest shudders with the deep breath she takes. Before this happened, she was interested in me, and from the scarlet of her cheeks, I think those feelings still linger.
“Thank you, Darcy,” I say, hoping she understands how thankful I am.
“No bother. I’m sorry it took so long.” She wrings her hands in front of her.
“Y’ve nothin’ to be sorry for. I owe you my freedom.”
She smiles, but it’s not in vain. Rather, she seems genuinely happy she could help. I don’t understand why. I wasn’t awful nice to her.
“Some people are waitin’ for ya,” Officer Grenham says, breaking the sudden silence.
Darcy discreetly wipes away a tear from the corner of her eye as she turns her back, busying herself with her briefcase. “I’ll be out in a moment. You head on.”
I don’t know why she’s crying. I don’t know much anymore.
Not sure what to say, I nod and follow Officer Grenham out the door. We walk the long hallway, which suddenly feels like the longest walk of my life. The steel gate buzzes open, and Officer Grenham glares at the man who opened it, knowing he was one of the arseholes who partook in my parting gift.
Walking past him, I take great satisfaction in seeing him flinch. But his time is coming, and there won’t be any witnesses when it does. Instead, I blow him a kiss.
Officer Grenham opens the door at the end of the hallway and stands by it with a smile. He is the only officer who actually gives a fuck. Hannah steps into view, tears streaming down her cheeks. But the person standing behind her has my heart clenching with the memories I hold.
“Punky!” Hannah rushes forward, not bothering with personal space as she hugs me tightly.
Instantly, her unique fragrance eases my nerves, and I hug her back loosely. I need to relearn how to walk before I run.
“I’m so happy right now,” she cries against my chest.
