The Freedom She's Been Wanting

"Number?"

"Prisoner number 11648, ma'am"

The female jail guard looked at her before handing her a basket full of her things- clothes, a wristwatch, wallet, a pair of shoes, and a phone. These were the things she had with her before she became a prisoner.

"Lucky you, you behaved well after your first year and a half of staying here so you got the parole and the judge let you free"

Blaire just bowed her head while accepting her things. The female jail guard noticed how the once feisty prisoner became as timid as a rabbit.

After receiving the things, another jail guard officer approached her and gave her a backpack. "Here, have this," she said. "You need to put your things in there while on the outside so you won't be tired carrying multiple things," she added. Blaire received the backpack and bowed lower before ushering her thanks.

"That's yours, why did you have to give it to her?" the female jail guard asked her colleague. The latter one shrugged her shoulders before answering her. "I just pity her. She doesn't deserve this place, that's all. So a little kindness won't give me harm"

"But you heard her case. She's a murderer because of her selfishness"

"There was no sufficient evidence. The judge had been bribed by the riches. I know you know that she was not given the right to defend herself in the first place. Besides, she had been insisting that she was just the unfortunate who must be blamed despite her innocence"

The former was speechless after hearing those words. "I can't believe you were all ears on her case all this years"

"I can't help it. I pity her so much. It's like I'm looking out for a daughter that I don't have"

-----

As soon as she stepped out of the facility, Blaire shielded her eyes from the scorching heat of the sun.

Finally. Freedom.

She breathed all the air that she could and looked at the bag she's carrying. She was about to put her things inside the bag when she noticed that it has two white envelopes on it. She decided to sit on a nearby shed to look on the insides of the envelope.

The first envelope contains a letter from the jail guard who offered the bag. The letter contains an address, the jail guard's address, and tells her that she's welcome to stay at her place when she couldn't find any place to stay yet. The guard also gave her a contact details of her friend that is in need of a helper. Blaire memorized the address and decided to apply for any available work.

The second envelope surprised her and almost brought her to tears. A letter which says that she knows Blaire needed money for a start and $20 from her wallet won't be enough so she lend $60 dollars in addition. The guard also instructed her that she could pay back the money any time she wants so she should not really worry on paying back the money as soon as possible.

There are still kindness lurking in the dark, thankfully I did not succumb into the darkness before, Blaire muttered on her mind.

-----

"Brenda was all over your case, child"

Blaire stared at the woman in front of her. She was confused, who is Brenda?

Puffing a smoke from her cigar, the woman smirked at the confusion Blaire showed upon hearing her statement. "What I meant was, the jail guard, the one who sent you my contact details, is my sister. And she was all over your case as if she was also eager to make you innocent on your case. She badly wanted to help you so she insisted me to let you work even if it's just part-time just so you could save some money. She will be held responsible for any ruckus you'll make in the future so you better watch your future actions kid once you start working here, okay?"

"I see, so you're still shocked. Tell me, are you going to respond or you don't want this kind of work at all?"

Blaire suddenly shook her head violently before uttering her thanks repeatedly. She didn't realize that the jail guard who always help her while she's inside the prison is Brenda, and even after she got out of the prison she still made sure to help her.

I really am indebted to her kindness. Blaire thought.

"Thank you so much, ma'am. I owe you my new life. I promise not to cause you any problems in the future" Blaire said while bowing her head.

"Address me as Miss Kendra from now on. You silly kid, you don't have to bow to me to show your gratefulness. Later you will be starting your shift, and I want you to first be a cleaner. Be here at 6 pm and your shift will start at 7:30. Got it?"

Blaire looked up to Kendra before she answered yes.

As she walked out of the establishment, she glanced at her surroundings, trying to tell if any familiar face she knows will caught her eyes.

A year and a half had passed since she was sent to jail. That year was the scariest nightmare she ever had, surviving from numerous insults and bullies from other prisoners. She was condemned, called nasty things she wouldn't want to remember, and was beaten by those who hated her for no reason. During her stay in the prison, she changed. Her strong personality hanged into a tamed one. She now easily accepts defeat whether she's right. She wanted to avoid men at all cost. She wanted to die, so she could escape all the accusations.

However, if it's not for Brenda, she would've succeeded in taking her life while on the prison. Brenda gave her a faint hope, to which Blaire thought that Brenda was just faking her kindness to her. Thankfully enough, she held onto that faint hope, and now, she finally had her freedom. She was a convicted person, yes, but without Brenda's help, she wouldn't be able to land a job easily.

It's all thanks to her, that she was able to survive for a year and a half from the prison, and will be continuing to survive outside the prison.

Blaire looked at her old wristwatch, saying that it's only 3 in the afternoon. She still has 3 hours to spend some time on herself. She decided to look for a nearby apartment that she could stay. She doesn't want to burden Brenda anymore even though her address is also along the road of Kendra's establishment.

"Alright, I need to find the cheapest apartment for me to stay and rest for a bit before starting my work"

That being said, Blaire started to walk and find every available apartment.