Chapter 10

For the rest of the week Mercedes prepared for her interview at the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office. Quinn had helped her prepare using her own experience to give Mercedes pointers. Quinn allowed her to study the case she was building and Mercedes was already finding ways to add to it and make the prosecution better. Her mom would come and go, checking on her every couple of hours. She would bring food for her and Quinn, though Quinn ended eating a lot more. Mercedes was too focus to eat. Quinn had left hours ago. Loretta came into the room bringing her dinner. When she arrived Mercedes was still hard at work.

"Mercedes, you're going to make yourself sick. Get some rest."

"I can't. This trial is too important and I want Quinn to be prepared. We can't let anything get past us. Blaine is a really good lawyer and hasn't lost a case since he started practicing law a year ago. Quinn needs to be at the top of her game, and I'm going to make sure she wins." Reply's a determine Mercedes.

"Please sweetheart move on from this."

"I can't. I keep saying that I want' to move on, that I'm trying but I can't, not now. Maybe after the trial is done but until then I can't."

"This is Quinn's first felony case do you really think she could win this."

"Quinn is brilliant, she was at the top of our class, interned as a law clerk for two years. She's being to court with six different cases and has won all of them, so yeah, I think she can win and I'm going to help her do it."

"As much as you might want to help your friend win her case. We both know that your obsession with this case is not about that. This experience has made you bitter, hard, what's going to happen to your life, your dreams.

"I don't have them anymore."

"You can't destroy yourself this way. It's better to forget, to think about your future, set goals for yourself."

"My only goal is revenge."

"You can't make revenge your whole life Mercedes!"

"Yes I can. Is the only thing I want!"

"Don't say that. Mercedes this can't be your life. You're destroying yourself with this obsession. You're letting hate and resentment take control of your life."

"My hate is the only thing I have left, and I will not be satisfied until I bury his ass."

"Hate is poison for the soul; it will only ruin you and that child you're carrying." Mercedes rolls her eyes. "It's not your fault you feel this way, but it's your obligation to suppress it. Don't poison your child with hate. The baby will need you more than anyone….

"For god's sake's mom stop, just stop!" she yelled. "I don't have to suppress my feelings nor my decisions for the baby. I'm already sacrificing myself enough conserving it and allowing it to be born!

"Mercedes how can you talk like that."

"You should be on my side; you should want that man to pay for his crimes, to pay for what he did to me."

"I do Mercedes I do. But not at the cost of you. All this hate and resentment, this obsession with revenge, will destroy you. Why not leave it to god."

"He chose me for this. This is what god created." She replied bitterly.

"This path of rancor, hatred and revenge. I really hope you don't end up regretting your choices sweetie, I really don't."

The next day Mercedes went to the OBGYN for her first prenatal appointment. She sat in the waiting room looking very uncomfortable. A woman sat next to her with a baby. The baby was crying and the mother was rocking the baby trying to calm it down. A couple across from them stare in awe. The woman couldn't contain her joy.

"Maybe her diaper is wet." The woman commented.

"No I just changed her. She's probably hungry." Said the mother rocking her baby

Mercedes felt like getting the hell out of there, she was fidgety and nervous and for the life of her couldn't understand how people could stand a wailing baby for so long.

"Isn't she beautiful honey? Can you imagine, that's going to be us in a few months?" Said the woman across from them to her husband. She woman couldn't contain her joy. Mercedes looked at her and her husband holding hands and couldn't help but feel sad. But didn't have time to think when the mother shove the baby into her arms giving her no choice but to hold the crying baby.

Mercedes swallowed hard. She held the crying baby but looked at it like it was alien. She tried to accommodate the baby in her arms but didn't know how. The mother passed her a bottle. Mercedes looked at the bottle and then the baby.

After rearranging the diaper bag, the mother took the baby back and Mercedes gave her the bottle and she started feeding her baby.

"Are you pregnant?" Asked the mother feeding her baby.

"Yes."

"It's your first right. I could tell you have no experience holding a baby. Don't worry it will come naturally once the baby it's born." Mercedes shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Tell me does she let you sleep at night." Asked the woman across from them.

"God no, she's loves to eat, always wakes up in the middle of the night for a feeding even if I feed her right before she goes to sleep."

"It's because breast milk its better. Fills them up and satisfies them more." Comments another woman waiting.

"Yeah I know, but I didn't have enough milk."

"I hope when I give birth I have enough. I'm so excited; I can't wait for my baby to be born. My husband is just happy he gets to be a father."

"Ms. Mendoza." Asked the nurse.

"Yes here. Thanks for sharing your experience and god bless your child." She said before following the nurse.

"Men go crazy when they find out they're going to be fathers. Your baby's father must be over the moon with happiness." Mercedes tensed and looked away. "It's a miracle he's not here; usually they want to be in everything. Especially with the first. They take care of you, do anything for you. You have to take advantage, if only just a little."

She got up and started walking around with the baby trying to soothe it. "I can tell this is your first so I'll give you some pointers." She sat back down next to Mercedes.

"After you feed the baby, you burp it. Like this." Mercedes watch with curiosity as she patted her baby's back and manage a small smile.

"Your bump is not noticeable yet." Mercedes looked down at her stomach. "Have you felt it move?"

"No."

"Wait till you feel the first kick. Those are the things you never forget, the wonderful moments you experience with your child. You make so many plans for them, but they are the ones that end up changing your life. That moment when you hear their cry and then when you hold it in your arms. Having a baby is the most wonderful experience a mother could ever have." Mercedes looked away uncomfortable.

"Mercedes." Called her mother.

"I'm not in the mood. I'm going to my room."

"How did the appointment go?"

"Fine, everything is fine."

"Let's not talk about that baby. Why don't you convince your mom, to come the costume party hosted by the Guilds. I suppose you don't want to go either."

"Why wouldn't I go?"

"I thought you might be embarrassed."

"Why, I have done nothing wrong. I have nothing for which to feel ashamed. So yes I'm going to the costume party. I'll see you tonight."

After getting her costume Mercedes spent the afternoon watching the witness's house. She was the only one that that saw Sam kill Dave according to the police statement. Quinn told her no one knew where she was. Quinn had left notices, called her home but never got an answer. The woman seemed to live alone and had no family with which she could be contacted through.

After hours watching the house and nothing Mercedes left to get ready for the party. Her aunt called her parents and her uncle were going as well. She invited Quinn but she was working on other cases in her office.

The party was in full swing when she arrived. Some people looked at her with pity while other's kept on dancing. Her aunt lifted her arm to get her attention and she went to sit with them.

"Mercedes you look beautiful."

"Thanks Aunt Lisa."

"But I though you would be wearing a mask, everyone will recognize you without a mask."

"That's the idea. This party actually looks more fun than last years." Her aunt laugh.

"Mercedes are you alright sweetie, you look a little pale."

"Morning sickness mom, its fine."

Kitty, Sugar, Shane and their friends were hanging out in a group when they saw Mercedes.

"Look who's here."

"Should we say hi?"

"No, let's just have fun."

"I'm going to say hi and then you guys come over."

"Hello, my lady, my I have the honor of this dance."

Mercedes looked at the man in the mask and couldn't recognize him. If only he spoke with his real voice.

"Do I know you?"

"No that isn't fair is it?"

"Come on Mercedes, have some fun. Dance, relax."

"Are you really going to leave me hanging my lady?"

Mercedes took his hand and he led them to the dance floor. As they danced Mercedes tries to place him.

"I think I know you."

"Maybe, maybe not." He said pulling her closer. She smelled his cologne and knew who it was right away. She took off his mask and confirming her suspicions. Next thing she knew a group of people startle insulting her, pushing her around, moving around her to confuse her, making her dizzy. She goes to hold on to Shane but he steps back and she falls, they laugh and point at her humiliated her more. She gets up and leaves upset, throwing up on her way out.

Her parents take her to their home after convincing her mom that she was okay and didn't need to check on the baby. Once out of the car Mercedes runs to the bathroom. After rinsing her mouth she leaves the bathroom.

"How are you sweetie?"

"I'm okay mom."

"I told you to go to Europe! You should have listened to me and go until you resolve your problem! But no, you had to stay! Well look what it got you! We are the joke of upper class because of you!"

"Raymond have some compassion. It wasn't her fault she fell, she was feeling sick."

"Yeah, because of that abomination she insists on carrying! I told her to go to leave the country to hide her shame so she wouldn't suffer! But instead of listening to me; her father, she wants to stay and on top of that instead of staying home so no one sees her in her condition she goes to exhibit herself in front of all of upper class to become a mockery! She deserved to be humiliated and mocked! She couldn't well leave this alone she had to drag us down with her! Now my good name, my image is ruin because of her."

"That's all you care about, isn't it. Your image.

"I have always been a respected man of society."

"And why is that dad, because of your power, your money. Money you inherited from your grandfather; a door to door salesman."

"Mercedes…

"What are your merits? Having multiplied the millions handed to you?"

"Mercedes I won't allow…

"And that position in upper class, you put it above your daughter, above your daughter's pain."

"Merce…

"As long as I was the perfect little girl, the good little innocent girl that listens to her parents, studied hard to make her parents proud, never stepped out line, dated the guy he though was right for her. I was your baby girl, the one you felt proud of and boasted to all your upper class friends. But now according to you I'm dirty, stained, and should be hiding my shame."

"You should have…

"I know. I should have had a secret abortion. That's how you save the honor of the family! Like that we could keep our good name intact and keep being in the upper class circles, our world. Well guess what. I don't give a fuck about that fake ass world of yours!

"Mercedes!"

"It's all a lie, hypocrisy at its best! Those so called friends, my ex-fiancé were the one humiliating me today. All from the almighty upper class and behaving like the lowest and most despicable people. All those women who never missed a party at our house filling their mouths gossiping about me. You think I'm being impudent, that I have no modesty, no shame. Of course I'm ashamed! I'm dying of shame each and every day! I'm suffering because my life is falling apart. But it's not my fault!" She cried.

"I have dignity, and I have pride and I refuse put my head down!" She screams with tears running down cheeks. "And since your world is much more important than me, keep it cause I want no part of it, I'm out."

"No Mercedes. Don't leave."

"I should have done this a long time ago mom. Goodbye."

"Mercedes…" yelled her father but she ignore him.

"I'll call you tomorrow mom."

"No sweetie, no don't do this please." Loretta tries to hold her back but she pulls away and leaves.

She didn't listen and walked out. She walked for a while and then took a taxi.

Quinn opens her apartment door and was surprise to see Mercedes in costume outside her door with her eyes swollen red.

"Mercedes, what are you doing here, are you okay?"

"I had a fight with my dad and I cut myself off. Can I stay with you, at least until I can get on my feet."

"Yes, of course."

"Can I borough twenty dollars there's a taxi waiting downstairs."

"I never thought I'd see the day where I'm richer than you." Smiled Quinn passing a twenty dollar bill to Mercedes.

After Mercedes paid the taxi, she went back upstairs. "Tell me you at least know how to fry an egg?" joked Quinn from the kitchen, making Mercedes smile.

In the morning Quinn made breakfast with Mercedes trying to help and failing miserably.

"The only thing that hurts me is my mom; I left her crying begging me not leave. But I couldn't stay. I thought about going back to get some clothes. But I realize everything I own I owe it to my father. None of my things are really mine, so I left everything."

"Imagine my surprise when I opened my door to find you in full costume."

"Yeah I didn't think past my anger, I just left and did not look back."

"I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing."

"Bad was last night. It was horrible. All those people gather in a circle pushing me from side to side, I was trying to get out but they wouldn't let me and kept pushing me back. All I could hear were them laughing at me, mocking me moving around me, confusing me even more. Morning sickness had been kicking my ass all day and then than stupid prank was the straw the broke the camel's back. I felt dizzy like I was about to faint and try to hold on to Shane but he just let me fall to the floor and laughed with the rest of them."

"Forget about those sons of bitches; trust me you're better off."

"I believe you."

"When are you calling your mom?"

"I don't know, I feel embarrassed about asking my mom for money, maybe I should get hotel room."

"Well here you're going to be tight and uncomfortable."

"I would prefer to stay here with you but there's really no room." She said looking around Quinn's studio apartment.

"Look Mercedes, lets speak loud and clear. I'm not saying it for me. But you're use to a life of comfort and luxury. If it were for me you can stay as long as you want."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I mean yes it's small but I'm sure we can manage."

"I need to learn to manage my life on my own now that I got nothing. I have nothing to wear other than your ex-boyfriend's t-shirt. I really don't want to take anything that came from my parents but I got no money, no job, no income whatsoever, I even left my purse, my phone. I'm completely cut off."

Quinn lifted her mug. "Welcome to adulthood my friend. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks."

"As for clothes; I may have a solution, but you might not like it. I know you're used to the finer things in life…

"Beggars can't be choosers Quinn; I have to learn that the hard way."

"Good, cause I was thinking of going to the Salvation Army or the church down the street to get some free clothes. Don't worry some of it aren't that bad. Some of the suits I wore to my internship at the law firm were suits I got from those places."

"Sure, thanks."

"Hey things will get better. They already are. Yesterday I was living alone talking to myself in front of the mirror while brushing my teeth, today I got a roommate to share breakfast with and even helped me make it."

"That was way more you than me, I suck."

"You'll get better. So you'll stay?"

"Yes."

"Well then errands will not run themselves. Let clean this place up. I'll clean the table and you go make the bed." Mercedes looked stump but approached the bed anyway. It really made her realize how dependent on others she was. She lived with her parents her whole life, even through college. The cleaning staff did everything, she didn't have to lift a finger.

"How exactly do you make the bed?"

"Making a bed is so hard, so hard." teased Quinn as she pulled the sheets and pillows back into place and was done.

"Hard indeed." They laugh.

Quinn went to work and Mercedes stayed home working on Quinn's laptop. When Quinn arrived Mercedes was still working.

"I bough you some underwear and I got you some different size clothes you might like; some of them are name brand."

"Thanks Quinn, I'll pay you back. You really know my style."

"I'm your best friend, of course I know. See if they fit."

"I got have some good or bad news depending on how you see it."

"What happen?"

"We were checking traffic surveillance to see what happen, Karofsky was in Sam's neighborhood since early evening. Karofsky was seeing entering a bar in the neighborhood. Later that same evening Sam enter the bar with Puck." Mercedes saw Quinn trying to not show any emotion and went to hug her.

"I'm sorry I know you still care for him."

"We agree not talk about Puck."

"Okay. Was there any cameras inside the bar?" Mercedes went back to trying on clothes.

"Yes, but there was no interaction between Sam and Dave or his friend. Nothing that could give us a clue as to what really happen. We ran Dave's friend image through the database, so far no match. Which most likely means he's never been arrested."

"Sam and that asshole left the bar and a few minutes later so did Dave and his friend."

"Where did they go?"

"We don't know."

"What do you mean?"

"Sam and Puck walked while Dave was driving but they didn't enter the same street. We don't know where they went and after the last traffic light they entered Baxter Street but the area is mostly houses and abandoned warehouses, they could have entered any street from there. It's impoverish area, not exactly the kind of people who would or could afford surveillance cameras. Even a corner store only had fake cameras installed to make thieves believe they were being recorded and less likely to rob them."

"This is not good, we can't let him get away with murder."

"We won't."

"I'm going again to see if anyone saw anything suspicious."

Mercedes tried them on and they all fit except for one skirt.

"I made dinner while you tried on the clothes."

"No, thanks I'm not hungry." Said Mercedes going back to work.

"Come on Mercedes. I bet you haven't stopped looking at that computer screen all day."

"Well now that I don't have law books, I got to do the research online. I want to make this case ironclad"

"Okay, but you got to eat. You're eating for two now. I sound like you mother, but it's true. Let's watch a movie and relax; you can get back to work tomorrow."

"I will work on it today, tomorrow and every day until the trial is over. You go watch your movie."

Mercedes meant what she said. For the next couple of weeks Mercedes went back to being a law student. Long hours at the library, reviewing her old notes from class, doing research, preparing for her interviews as well as studying old cases similar to Sam Evans. Mercedes was interview for the position then she had to go to a second interview. They saw that she was eager and passionate; her transcript from law school impressed them. When entering law school Mercedes thought to do the bare minimums to pass, but each semester Quinn manage to convince her to apply to internships and programs that could further their education and work experience. She would always say "You never know what the future holds" to convince her. Both her and Quinn volunteered as paralegals for a private law firm in their first year andinterned as law clerks their second and third year of law school. It's ironic how she did all those things to have something to do, and now those experiences she didn't give much importance were what she was leaning on to get her into the program.

Two weeks later she was within a group of twenty volunteer attorneys being train to practice law. For the next month Mercedes worked very hard long hours perfecting her craft impressing her tutors. She would spend hours studying cases, doing research practicing arguments, practicing opening statements as well as closing statements. She put all her emotions into this training. She followed every procedure and made it her own, showed initiative, was very professional and direct, compassionate when it was necessary, masked her emotions to not give up her defense, study the jury asking key questions to each of them to know them, making her the best a picking the best jury for each case, gave intelligent arguments that followed procedure but were also unorthodox and out of the box which impress even the hardest of the critics. Her passion and determination made her the best in the training class.

After the month of training she was given minor cases to prosecute. She knew why she was doing this, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to give her new cases any less than 100%. She worked each case as if was the most important case. Her long hours of hard work paid off. She was victorious in all her cases, prompting her bosses to give her more. They were impressed with her intelligence and her approach to different cases. Even Mercedes herself was impressed with herself, she never knew she could be so passionate about law, but she loved it. Throughout all this Mercedes never forgot her true goal and everything she did was driven by her desire for revenge. She was determine to make him sorry he ever met her.

The trial was going to be in a few weeks and Quinn had finally decided to ask her bosses if she could have a silent partner in her first felony case.

"So what did they say?" asked Mercedes nervously. She had been trying to work but was too worried about what Quinn's bosses would say. They probably be expecting Quinn to ask one of the ADA's, not one of the volunteers. Would they say yes, given her background or would they say no because of her background.

"I'm sorry no, with your past history with Sam Evans… but there's a bright side. I can use any resource at my disposal and I think I need a consultant."

"Are you serious?"

"Well it's more like unofficial second chair…

"Oh my god thank you." Mercedes jump for joy and regretted a second later as nausea hit her like a tidal wave. "I'm okay. It's not ideal but as long as it helps me crush Sam Evans, I don't care. Sam Evans is going down."

Now that she was Quinn's unofficial consultant Quinn had let her study the case she was building and she was more than impress. As Quinn consultant she would be an investigator, getting evidence, talking to possible witnesses and building the case, making improvements to building an ironclad prosecution. She kept looking for the woman that called the police the day of the fight. She looked for work but her concentration was on punishing Sam Evans.

Quinn tried her best at Loretta's request to take care of her daughte. Quinn worried about her friend but she couldn't force her friend to stop working herself to exhaustion. She usually had to remind her friend to eat and oftentimes Mercedes would fall asleep with her head on the table. Quinn knew that she should pull Mercedes from the case, but she promise her friend.

It's been months and he still did not have a solid defense. This is the first time this has happen to him and he didn't think it was coincidence. No to mention his boss told him to take Hector Jackson out of the witness list. Blaine knew something was amiss, he just couldn't put his finger on it. This was the first case where his investigation wasn't giving him results. He checked every lead he had to prove Dave Karofsky was sent to hurt or kill Sam as retribution for what he did to Mercedes. But every lead he checked he came up empty. It was like it was fixed, things were too coincidental.

He checked video surveillance, phone calls, interview people who worked with Hector Jackson, with Mercedes and her family, with Ms. Karofsky even people who knew him, and still he came up empty.

Quinn gave him the witness list and he talked with the witness. It was very frustrating when everything seems to be going against him. How is he going to win this case, he doesn't know, but he will damm sure try.

Mary was cleaning her house or at least trying to. Even after she forgave him, she still cries. Her disappointment is too big to swallow and so she cries, when she's alone. Never in front of Dwight or the kids. No matter how hard she tries to understand she can't wrap it around her head that her son is a rapist and every time she remembers her heart brakes for her son and for that woman who had to suffer such a horrible experience. The house phone rings and she dries her tears before picking up the phone.

"Hello."

"Ma…Mary." A hesitant voice comes through the speaker. Mary tenses, she knows that voice she hasn't heard it in years.

"What do you want mother?"

"I heard about Sammy in the news."

"And of course you called to gloat. Save it mother."

"No, Mary don't hang up. I didn't call to gloat, not at all. It breaks my heart that you think I would call to torment you. I know we had our differences in the past and that has cost us dearly. We lost you and your brother and that hurts us more than anything."

"You wanted to control our lives."

"I know and it was wrong of us to do that, we know that now. Marley wants to see Sam. I think it's the first time since your brother died that she has come out of her shell."

"Tell her I'm sorry for leaving the funeral so soon; I just didn't want any arguments."

"She knows. She's the one who has opened our eyes. I know we never approved of Dwight for you but we have always loved our grandchildren. I just can't believe that such a sweet boy could do something like that."

"He was drunk, and he made a mistake." Mary said her voice tremble. How could she make excuses for him?

"I just want you to know that anything you need, anything; don't hesitate to call." Mary stayed silent.

"Marley is taking the plane to California in a couple of weeks. She wants to see Sam."

"Why, given what he did I would think she wouldn't want anything to do with him."

"I thought the same thing. But then she told me something her father taught her. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. She knows he did wrong, but doesn't judge him for it, and neither will we. My offer stands. Good bye Mary."

"Bye mother."

Solitary confinement was hell in a box. There were times in there where he was sure he was losing his mind, that he had lost his mind. The only things keeping him sane were thoughts of the baby. Did she keep it, did she get rid of it. How was she, would it show by now. Can you tell the sex by now? If only she things had turn out differently. If only he met her and asked her out. He would take her out and they would get to know each other and realized that they have a lot in common or were complete opposites but still learn to love each other. He would introduce her to his parents and she hers and maybe move in together, get engage, get marry, raise a family, build a life together. They were happy, so happy in this perfect life.

Sometimes he would get so into his head he couldn't distinguish between reality and fantasy. But each time he was brought back to reality it was like a bucked of cold water and his heart broke each time he realized it was all a dream, a hallucination. There was no Mercedes, no baby, no him with her. Just him alone going crazy in his dark box. Sometimes he would punch the walls, scream just to feel alive and not go crazy. He miss all the things he took for granted, the sun, fresh air, the outside noise, but most of all he missed his family, his friends; he missed seeing her even if she always looked at him with fear and contempt. He missed seeing her.

Being out of solitary confinement felt like heaven. It took him a minute to adjust to the brightness. Being out of there felt like a weight had being lifted off his shoulders. He was actually happy to see Will again. Soon enough they were talking, the kid that attacked me had requested protective custody which apparently is seen as the most cowardly move an inmate can make and was mark for life now.

Prison life is anything but easy. You either join a gang or like Will you can pay for protection without joining a gang. Or you can be an outcast and be on your own, which he now was. The leader of the AB approached me while we were out and told me he wanted me to kill somebody from one of the other gangs, of course I said no. I knew if I agree I would become part of their gang and that's the last thing I wanted. To say he wasn't happy was an understatement. He sent someone to kill me and I fought back but I didn't kill him. I've been in various fights and I manage to hold my own though I don't know how long I can last. This time it was me who ended up in the infirmary with a stab wound. My rib is broken and I have a cast.

I spend most of my time in my cell thinking; Will told me time would be better spent if I kept busy. He learned from other inmates that Will was a successful lawyer before coming here. Since he's a highly educated lawyer he's allowed to teach other inmates. He wanted me to join his class and gave me a book to read, which was a joke since I couldn't read shit. I still didn't want to look stupid so I made it look like I was reading but it was all confusing to me. The cat got out of the bag when he asked what I thought about the book. When I didn't say anything but hang my head, he knew. It seemed some of the other inmates couldn't read either so they were taught in prison; if they wanted to learn. After countless hours just thinking about Mercedes and the baby and driving myself crazy with worry I decided to distract myself and go to Will's class. Here there were people of all races reading from books and magazines and Will helping them out.

After a week with Will trying to teach me how to read and I still was confuse and frustrated I gave up and left back to the cell. Will try to convince me to go back but I didn't want to. I told Will I was dyslexic in a frustrated rant and told him to just give it up. But he didn't' and a week later asked me to go to class with him. Apparently he had done some research and contacted some people on how to work with people with dyslexia.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I'm going to tell you something I never told anyone before. Someone help me out; back when I was young and stupid. I came from broken home, deadbeat parents. I figure if no one cared why should I? I was heading on a bad road probably would have ended here long before last year if it weren't for a man who instead of turning me in for trying to steal his wallet actually took me in, saved my life. If he hadn't taken pity on me, guided me on the right path I would have ended up in a gang and in prison long before last year. He helped me get my shit together and was the only person who was there for me without wanting something from me. I remember the day I graduated from college, he was so proud of me. I hugged him and was about to say thank you but he told me not to thank him but to pay it forward. That's why I'm doing this.

All these guys here, just because they are inmates; doesn't mean they can't have a better life once out of here or at least strive to. If you're smart then you can make something of yourself while you're still here even if it's just getting your GED, it sure beats boredom. You're on your own and you manage to stand your ground but being in that cell all day for 23 hours will drive you insane and will make you look like you're scare. You don't have to socialize with the other inmates but at least while you're hear make the most of it. I mean look at me, it's not lawyering but it's the best next thing. I got some old friends to send me some books and materials to teach dyslexic adults to read and write. I'm not saying it will be perfect but if you're interested I'll be here."

After that Will left me to my thoughts. I thought about it all day. It was true I could use the distraction and life's irony to give me an education now that I'm lock up wasn't lost to me. I thought about the baby, what if Mercedes didn't have the abortion. What if she's having the baby? What if I get the chance to meet him or her in the future? I know it's a very long shot but kids are usually curious about their parentage. Maybe he/she will find out about me and wants to meet me either just to meet me or to tell me how much he or she hates me for what I did to Mercedes. Either way I didn't want my child to have a father who is stupid. With luck I'll be out of here in ten years, better trained, better educated and at the odd chance that he or she wants to meet me, they won't be embarrassed to have a stupid dyslexic father who can't read. No, I want my kid to be proud of me, whether here on earth or in heaven. That was his last thought before getting up and heading to class.

Thanks to all who have read, review, followed and favorite and thanks for sticking with this story. Hope you enjoyed this new chapter. Let me know what you think.