The wind was blowing strong, making the leaves fall from the trees and making them float in a beautiful orange curtain. Light rain began to fall, crashing against the windshield of a car driving on an empty highway. Behind the steering wheel was a middle aged man with a small mojo haircut and a full ginger beard. The man was looking straight at the road, but you could tell he was focused in other things as his face remained still. He wasn't driving alone; in the back seat was a young man, maybe in his 20´s, wearing a black coat, jeans and boots. On his head he was using a black ushanka.

The boy was just staring at the window, watching as the car was passing fast a long line of orange trees; his fingers tapping his lap and his head leaning against the door. By the look of his face you could tell he was worried and you would be right. He was thinking on what he would do once he arrived at his destination; after being a long time far away from the place he called home, he was uncertain about how much things had changed, how many people he once knew were still there. But after all, if his family would accept him after all those years he was gone.

"Hey Loud" the man called him. "What are you gonna do once you get home? I can't wait to hold my little girl in my arms, kiss my wife and..." The man said with a smile on his face. The boy on the other hand wasn't paying any attention to his words; he has been doing the same since they left the airport. The man noticed this as he looked at the rearview and saw his face was the same as an hour ago. "Loud?" The man called again.

"Uh?" He said, coming back to reality. "Sorry Smith, It's just that…"

"I know you're nervous Lincoln; I understand it must not be easy for you to return; after all you were gone for so much time and…" Smith began to talk, but then he noticed how uncomfortable Lincoln was getting. "…but what I mean is, I bet they will be more than happy when they see who will return home. Aren't you exited to see your family again?"

"I guess I am." Lincoln said "It's just that there's so much I lost in all those years man. I mean, I got involved in so much shit I had to run away. I lost everything and I have nobody but me to blame for making bad decisions." At this point Lincoln was whimpering; he tried to hold the tears, but it was so hard because he knew that he could have lived a normal life if he only would listen to the people trying to help him. He thought in how different would be his life; he could be right now working in a good job, have a wife, a house and kids.

He could have a life.

Smith took a quick glance at the white haired boy. He couldn't help but feeling bad for him; he was still young and had a life ahead, as well as many opportunities in the future. But he also knew that what he said was right; for what Lincoln said, he had done a lot of mistakes, some of them real bad. He thought what to say to the boy, and sighing, he talked to him.

"Loud, I know it must he hard, but crying won't solve your problems. You're right, you fucked things up, but now you're trying to make things right, and that says a lot about you." Smith said. Lincoln whipped his tears and fixed himself.

"You really mean it?"

"Let me tell you something Loud. It takes courage to accept your mistakes, but it takes a lot more in trying to fix them." Smith said, giving a confident smile to his partner.

"Never saw things that way. Thanks Smith." Lincoln said, cleaning his face with the sleeve of his coat.

"Don't mention it mate." Smith said.

Two hours passed and they finally reached their destiny. A big sign was standing on the right side of the highway: "You're now entering to beautiful Royal Woods"

"So, this is your hometown, eh Loud?" Smith asked, amazed by the beauty of the houses with big gardens full of colorful flowers. Smith even reduced the speed of the car to admire better the little details of the houses. Lincoln was amazed as well, because he remembered that zone of the city was margined; there used to live poor people, drug dealers and drug addicts in abandoned houses that were in really bad shape. He, just like his partner, saw how in some houses little children were playing in the garden, and in other houses people were having a barbecue.

"Yes… this is my home…" Lincoln said, not even believing in what he was saying.

"Tell me Loud, where do you want me to drop you?" Smith said.

"Just keep driving, we'll arrive soon." Lincoln said. Ten minutes passed fast, and in that time Lincoln told Smith everything he remembered about the city when he was young; he talked about some things such as Flip´s, the mall, Gus's games and grubs just to mention a few. After being done talking, Lincoln told him to pull over in front of a blue house.

"You live here Loud? For what you told me about having ten sisters I thought you lived in a big house and this one seems to barely have enough space." Smith said.

"This isn't my house, but if I want to make things right I need to talk to someone first."

"Alright then." Smith said as Lincoln opened the door and got off the car. He took his baggage from the other side of the backseat, closed the door and then approached at the passenger window.

"I guess we split here, partner." Smith said.

"It seems so." Lincoln answered. "Thank you for everything Smith, I really owe you one."

"Just one?"

"Ok, I get it." Lincoln said with a small chuckle. He gave a firm handshake to Smith. "If you ever come to Royal Woods again gimme a call so we can hang."

"You got it, take care Loud." Smith said as he closed the window and drove away.

Lincoln was now in front of the house of the person he hurt the most when he left. Memories came to his mind as he appreciated every detail of it; the wood seemed to be old but strong, the paint coat was too good to be old, and in the drive was a big oil stain that looked still fresh. Lincoln didn't know if he was prepared to face his past; his knees were shaking and his hands were sweating. One part of him wanted to run away, not only from the house but from the town; he didn't want to deal with the shadows that chased him.

But he had to.

Sighing, he grabbed the baggage and walked through the porch. His mind was completely blank; he tried to stay positive, but as he was getting close to the house he felt as a shiver ran down his spine. His feet barely responded to him and cold heavy sensation dropped into his stomach. He was about to turn around and run.

But he didn't, if he wanted to fix things, he had to do it now.

Taking a deep breath, he put the baggage in the wooden floor and with his shaking hand he knocked the door.

Time passed slower, seconds felt like hours as he waited for an answer.

But he didn't have one.

The boy thought about leave now that he had the chance, but his will of stay there was stronger.

He knocks again.

This time he heard steps coming from inside. As the steps became louder, he felt how his stomach clenched just like every time he had to shot his gun to save his guts. But this time was worse because it wasn't a situation that could be arranged just by killing your problems.

The doorknob turned. It was now or never.

The door opened revealing a young beautiful woman with dark skin, freckles and black hair tied in a ponytail. She was wearing sweating pants and a grey t-shirt.

"Hello, Ronnie Ann…"

A/N:

For months I've been dealing with a blocking, that's why I have not updated my other stories. This one is a story I've been having in mind for a while but due to lack of time and inspiration I couldn't write it. I hope this story to be the end of my blocking, and I really hope you all like it.