Chapter 1- Back to Reality
"Samantha Speno," a guard called.
"Yes," Samantha answered walking to the barred barrier between them.
"You're sentence is up. You're a free woman once again," the guard said.
"Really?" she answered in disbelief.
"Yes, six years have passed."
"Okay, so let me out already."
"I will, but you have to be escorted off the premises."
"Okay."
The guard unlocked and slid open the gate. Samantha went to his side and he relocked the gate.
He took Samantha by the arm and started to lead her out of the inmates' section. As Samantha started to walk away the inmates started to yell mixed messages to her. Some were congratulating while others were so vile and offensive. However, she kept walking and never looked back.
"After I escort you out of here, you need to go down to the local court, they'll be expecting you."
"Why can't I go home?"
"This really is your first offense isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"Well you need to go to the court as the first step to putting your life back together. Do you know how to get there?"
"Yeah," Samantha replied.
"Okay," the guard said as he let her through the tall barbed wire fence, "Ms. Speno this is the beginning of your new life and I hope we don't meet again."
"Oh don't worry we won't," she said walking down the block, "This time I won't get caught."
Samantha walked for several blocks before she found the county bus stop. She waited five minutes with some other released inmates before their special bus arrived, an all black bus with heavily tinted windows. When Samantha got aboard the bus she refused to sit based on the condition.
The bus looked older than her. It had seats that were worn and torn to the point where people were sitting on the metal frame of a chair. The bus was so cold that you could see your breath; the only heated part of the bus was the driver's separate compartment. There were no lights in the bus and there was a stale smell hovered in the air.
Samantha couldn't wait to get off of that bus, but like everyone else she had to wait. She distracted herself by looking out the window and noticing the changes that had happened since she went away. Her mind was bombarded with thoughts of being home in her own bed and in her own space, but she would soon learn that that might just be a fantasy.
When the bus came to it's final stop everyone filed into the local courthouse. When it was Samantha's turn to see the judge, she became very nervous due to her last encounter with her. Slowly she pushed open the wooden double doors and entered the courtroom.
"Well, well, well, long time no see Ms. Speno," the judge stated from behind her stand.
"Hello, your honor."
"Look who found some respect in the pen? Anyway, that's not what we're here to discuss. We're here to talk about the details of your new life."
"Okay…"
"Here are your new circumstances," the judge said putting on her black thick-rimmed glasses, "You are on a year's probation until you prove that you have changed. Until then your bank account is frozen as well as your assets. Your home has been rented so you'll need to stay with friends or family…"
Samantha's jaw dropped as she came to the realization that she had lost everything.
'How am I supposed to live without money?"
"The court will give you a hundred dollars for you to get to your destination."
"What can a hundred dollars do for me? Things are expensive."
"Look Ms. Speno, you're an ex-con and the court is not going to award you for several convictions. Personally I would have locked you up for life, but your family holds great power in the city of St. Louis. Six years for your offenses is a crime in itself, but I digress. So take it or leave it, one hundred dollars."
"Fine I'll take it, but I've got one more question."
"And what would that be?"
"How am I supposed to find a job?"
"By applying."
"But who would hire an ex-con?"
"You should have thought of that before you attempted murder…twice. Stop trying to be the victim. Case dismissed."
Samantha glared at the judge took the money, and then stormed all the way out of the courthouse. As she pushed the front door open the frigid December air smacked her across the face sending chills jolting through her body. She walked to the corner and hailed a cab. She gave the driver the only address she could. He drove her for an hour to her destination on the other side of town. When she reached the brick ranch home she asked him for the cost.
"Fifty plus tip."
"Fifty! It used to be twenty five."
"Lady that was like five years ago, gas is expensive."
"Okay," Samantha said reaching in her pocket and pulling out three twenties.
She paid and then exited the cab. She walked up the driveway to the door. Taking a deep breath she pressed the doorbell and awaited an answer. Samantha held her breath as she heard the door unlocking.
"What will they think of me?" she thought as the door opened in slow motion.
"Sammy."
"Mom," Samantha said with a hug.
"Come in," her mom said stepping aside.
Samantha walked in and was happy to see that at least something had stayed the same. She took off her coat and hung it up in the closet.
"So Sammy do you want to tell me why you went to jail?"
Samantha sat on the couch, "Not really…it's a long story."
"I've got time."
"Honey, who was at the door?" Bill asked as he wiped the sleep from his eyes.
"Why don't you come and see," Sarah replied.
Bill walked down the hall and couldn't believe his eyes, "Sam?"
"Yeah daddy, I'm home."
"She was just about to tell me why she had to do time."
"Because she did the crime," he answered sitting in his favorite crème colored armchair.
"Bill…"
"No mom he's right."
"So what did you do that I haven't seen my baby in six years?" Sarah asked.
Samantha looked down at her hands as she said, "Attempted murder."
Sarah's eyes widened and her mouth fell open from shock.
"Attempted murder," Bill repeated, "Then I'm afraid you can't stay here."
"Bill let's hear her story."
"No, I don't wanna hear a damn thing. If she tried to kill someone who says she wouldn't try to kill us."
"I wouldn't daddy."
"And I bet it was someone she knew, wasn't it?"
"Yes and no."
"That's all I need to hear, Sarah give her some coffee and a salute. I want her gone in an hour," Bill said disappearing down the long hall.
Samantha started to cry as she pleaded with her mom.
"Please mom, I have nowhere to go."
"What do you mean you have nowhere to go?"
"I have nothing. No home, no money, all I have is what you see."
"Well what about Randy?"
Samantha's face grew red with anger, "We broke up…he's probably married by now."
"You're my only hope."
"I'guess I'll have to talk to your father about this, but you have to tell me how you ended up in jail."
Samantha nodded, "Okay. It all began when…"
Sarah sympathized with her daughter as she heard the details of her ordeal and also sensed the remorse in her voice to know that she could trust her daughter.
"I'll talk to your father."
"Thank you," she said wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
Sarah looked at what her daughter has become and shook her head. She walked to her bedroom to plead her daughter's shelter.
Author's Note: Read and Review. Let me know what you think!
