Disclaimer: See chapter 1

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Chico was packing the few things he had in his cell. Mr. Graham was coming this morning to make sure the release papers were in order and they would be leaving together. Leaving! He could hardly believe it. When his sentence had been handed down five years ago he figured this was where he'd be until he was an old man.

He could hardly wait to see his abuella again and he would be able to see her every day and take care of her. He'd be able to get up when he wanted, well until he found a job, at least. He could eat when he wanted to and what he wanted. He could go anywhere he chose anytime he chose. No, he certainly wouldn't miss this place.

He stopped what he was doing. As much as he wouldn't miss this place, he would miss the professor. He was the closest thing to a father he'd ever had. He hurriedly finished what he was doing and headed with the rest of the prisoners for his last breakfast. He scoured the crowd of inmates looking for the professor. He finally spotted him and wound his way through the swarm until he got to him. "Good morning Chico," William smiled. "I bet you're glad that this is your last breakfast in this place."

"Yeah professor, you're right about that. I wanted to talk to you before I left."

"Okay, but we talked last night. I'm happy for you Chico, really!"

"I was just thinking maybe I could come and visit you sometime," Chico said.

William grabbed the young man by the shoulders and it took all his strength to physically propel him away from the throng so it was just the two of them. His hands remained on Chico's shoulders although he was aware of the guards watching them. "Chico," William spoke in a sharp tone Chico had never heard before. "Listen to me. I do not want you to set foot inside these doors again, ever. We can write letters to one another and we can even talk on the phone. I want you to spend time with your abuella, get a job, have some fun and meet a nice girl but what I don't want is to ever see you here again. You got that?"

The young man nodded, "Okay professor, if that's the way you want it."

"It is the way I want it Chico. Let's go get breakfast and then you can see Lloy…lawyer, your lawyer and I'll head off to see Dr. Raymond." William really didn't want to see Beverly Raymond this morning. His emotions were too close to the surface and he didn't want her to see that.

After breakfast Chico was told to follow Larry as his lawyer had arrived. Chico was taken to the same room they'd always used in the past. Lloyd was sitting at the table perusing some documents. He smiled broadly when the young inmate entered the room. "Everything is in order with your release papers," he said. He reached for a bag beside the table. Since you were only sixteen when you came here, any clothes you had aren't likely to fit. I thought you could use these. Chico looked inside the bag and saw a pair of navy chinos, a navy tee shirt, a blue plaid shirt, some underwear, socks and a pair of converse shoes.

"Thank you Mr. Graham," Chico looked at the man incredulously.

"Why don't you go to your cell, change and collect your things and we'll be on our way," Lloyd suggested.

Chico took the bag and Larry followed him to the now empty cell block where Chico changed in the cell that had been his home for five years. The clothes felt so different on his body. After wearing khaki every day for five years the navy seemed so shocking. Larry met him when he came out of his cell block. "Do you think I could go to the recreation room for a couple of minutes?"

Larry knew what he wanted. He liked Chico, all the guards did. He nodded, "As long as you're not too long."

Chico walked into the recreation room that was empty as all the inmates were either in the textile factory, the furniture factory or the print factory. He knew there would only be one person in the room. Work started at 8am but sessions with Dr. Raymond never started until 9am. He could see the grey hair just over the top of the armchair. "Professor," he said as he came up to the chair.

"Chico," William said as he saw the young man for the first time in street clothes. "You are not going to have any trouble with the opposite sex. Wait until the girls in Chicago get a load of you!"

Chico looked at his clothes. "Mr. Graham brought them for me."

"Well you look good. So you're ready to go then?"

"Yeah, I just thought I'd come and say goodbye."

"Good bye Chico, you take care of yourself, you hear," William admonished.

"Yes sir, I will." He stood awkwardly for a moment. "I guess I better go."

"Yes," William agreed, "I imagine Mr. Graham is waiting."

"Yeah, uh, okay, bye professor," Chico headed for the door then ran back, bent down and threw his arms around William, "I love you professor," he whispered and he was gone, Neither man looked back. Neither man wanted the other to see his tears.

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"Come in," William heard in response to his knock on Beverly Raymond's door. He entered to find Dr. Raymond writing on a legal pad. He sat in his usual seat. "Good morning William, how are you this morning?"

"I'm well, thank you," William gave his usual response.

"I thought you might be a little sad today because your friend Chico has been released," the doctor began.

"Why would I be sad? It's a great thing for him. He deserves it," William replied.

"Surely you'll miss him. You two spent a lot of time together," Beverly pressed.

It was on the tip of his tongue to blurt out that he missed him already but instead he said, "Of course I'll miss him." Why was this infernal woman going on about this? Why wasn't she talking about his sons like she usually did?

"I'm sure he'll miss you," she said.

"Oh, I'm sure he'll forget about me in time," he replied.

"Is that what you want?"

"I don't know, maybe. You know what they say; if you love it set it free. Maybe that's what I should do with my sons too. Set them free so they can forget about me."

"Do you think that's possible?"

"Which part, me setting them free or them forgetting about me?"

"Take your pick," she responded.

He looked at her with exasperation. "Spencer found out Allie's been writing to me. He was apparently really angry. She hasn't written me since May when she told me about my granddaughter."

"Why do you think that is?" she pressed.

"Because Spencer was really pissed."

"Why do you think that is?" she asked again.

"What is this, twenty questions?" he responded irritably.

"You said you should set your sons free so they could forget about you. You were out of Spencer's life for a long time. He never forgot about you. What he remembered may not be the good part of your life but he never forgot you. You're part of him and from the sounds of things, a part he'd rather not deal with. That can only hurt him in the long run. I've never spoken to him but from all I've heard, he's tried to bury you but he can't and somehow, someday he'll have to face his feelings for you so it doesn't eventually eat away at him."

"I can't make him deal with me," he shot back.

"He's got a daughter now. Someday she'll have questions. The day will come when he's forced to face his feelings for you so this idea of setting your sons free," she waved her hand around aimlessly, "as admirable as you think it is, is a nonstarter."