This is another story of mine, previously published which I've decided to share here.Hope you all enjoy :)
© 2013 by S. C. Edward.
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of author. The characters appearing in this work are fictitious and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Please be advised that this tale includes detailed sexual situations, lack of condom usage, profanity and is not suited for readers under the age of 18. Intended for mature audiences only.
Foreword
This story is dedicated to an unknown ex-convict I came across on the train one day, a few years ago. He had an outburst on the train about not being given a chance to find employment, even though he had rehabilitated himself, and was out of prison. His story inspired me to write this. The situations in this story will include adult themes, and are intended for mature audiences.
Chapter One
He'd lost it all. Mark's only link to the outside world was now dead. His mother had recently passed away, and he was left all alone. He was forgotten. No one he knew while he was free bothered, or cared to contact him.
Life in prison was rough. He always had to be on guard, never knowing who would attack him next, or what new problems would arise. He had to portray himself as a tough character, because no one respected weakness. It was a savage environment, and before his mother's passing, he promised her that he would survive.
To make it out of prison, and live was his only goal. During his first years there, Mark made a name for himself amongst the other inmates. To establish his reputation, he had to take down so many who challenged him.
Now no one even dared to look his way anymore. He was 26 now, and had survived almost five years behind bars. Many thought his death imminent in such a dangerous place, but he had proven them wrong. His mother had given him hope.
She was the only positive thing in his life when she was alive. She had forgiven him for all his mistakes and was truly a good woman. He wept in secret and silence when she passed. Of course he remembered his promise, but he had no idea how weak he was without her.
She was his backbone through all this. All of the fighting and alliances that he'd made to preserve himself; they were all done in hopes to make up for being a bad son.
He had been a nuisance to her before he was locked away and it was something that still weighed on his mind. Now that she was gone, what else was there? No other family, no ex-girlfriends and no buddies. His thoughts turned to killing himself or better yet letting some other inmate do it for him.
Sometimes at night in the dark of his cell, when there was nothing left to do but give in to his thoughts, he would wonder whether he should go on. What good would it be if no one else could accept him? His kind was shunned by society. No matter how minor or major his offense, he would be stamped a convict.
He knew this title alone was unsettling. People were conditioned to fear what they didn't understand. The world was a cold place with no sense of empathy as far as he was concerned, and his sins would forever be written on his sleeve. No one would look past them and see a man who struggled every day of his life.
He managed to hold up for the next few weeks, even though underneath it all he was crumbling. Fear and loneliness were beginning to take a strong hold and he was losing sight of having any kind of life outside prison walls.
Dr. Benjamin Benson, an instructor who taught an English course at the prison noticed Mark's rapid fall into depression. The retired college professor had taken a liking to Mark and hoped to help him. He knew that Mark had the potential to live a good life despite his shortcomings. One afternoon, Dr. Benson held him back after the class was over.
"Can I talk to you son?"
"Uh about what sir?" Mark said with a look of confusion.
"Is something bothering you? You've been looking very distracted lately. Are you worried about something?"
"I'm fine."
"With your release coming soon, I thought you'd be much happier son. How much time do you have left?"
"Six months."
"You don't look happy about that. Do you have family waiting for you?"
"No sir...not...anymore."
"Oh... I'm really sorry son." the professor replied remorsefully, as he realized why his pupil had such sad eyes.
"My mom passed away three weeks ago."
"I know how hard this must be for you, and I'm sorry if I seemed insensitive just now."
"It's alright... we all got to go sometime right?" Mark said, forcing a smile.
"I was meaning to talk to you a while ago about something, but if this is a bad time we can always talk later. I'd hate to trouble you at such a difficult time."
"Well sir, I'm already here so you might as well tell me what's on your mind."