Page 113 of A Hurt So Good

“Hard to say. He probably pissed off the wrong person,” I tell him.

“From what I’ve heard, he didn’t fuck with anyone since he was about to be up for parole.”

“Doesn’t mean shit, and we all know it.”

“That’s true. Hey, I heard they were releasing some assholes on good behavior that have lesser charges,” he tells me. That’s news to me.

“What counts as a lesser charge?” I muse.

“I don’t know, honestly. All you did was hit the cop. I would think that’s a lesser charge.”

“Doubt that. They take that shit a little too seriously,” I tell him.

“No shit. A year for that shit? Did he deserve it?” he asks me. He didn’t really deserve it. He just happened to be there at the wrong time, and I used that to my advantage.

“Yeah, he was looking at my girl,” I lie.

“Just looking?” I turn my head to look at him and nod.

“Isn’t that enough?” I ask him. He laughs now as I turn to look back at the others.

“She must have a golden pussy if you got that pissed off for looking,” he says. He starts to laugh,but it gets cut short when I spin around, grab him by the throat, and slam him against the wall.

“I’ve killed men for less, Robert,” I warn him. His eyes widen before he nods his head understanding me. I release my grip and move back to my spot on the rail. Robert eyes me as he rubs at his throat, but he should be careful what he says about my little bird.

I stand here for a while longer when one of the guards comes to get me. He tells me to follow him, and I do as I’m told.

He takes me down a few different halls before I’m escorted into an office. This is it. They figured out it was me. Is this when they play the goddamn video and tell me they know what I’ve done? I nearly laugh, but I hold it in until they actually prove that it was me.

“Mr. Staton. Do you know why we’ve brought you in here today?” the warden asks me.

“No.”

“As you’re aware, we’re overcrowded here, and to be honest with you, your charges aren’t as serious as some others. We’ve been watching everyone, and we’ve had to make some decisions. At this time, due to the overcrowding, we’re going to release you from your sentence. You will be required to go on probation as a result of this early release. Do you understand?” What the fuck? What Robert said was true? They’re letting some of us out?

“You’re letting me go?” I ask, not sure I heard him correctly.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“As I stated, we’re overcrowded, and we’re looking at those with the lesser crimes who have been on the straight and narrow since they’ve been here. We’ve had no issues out of you since you arrived, so you’re a candidate for early release.”

“I punched a cop,” I remind them.

“As we very well know, and I do hope that in the short time you’ve been here, you’ve learned a lesson. Your record was not a clean one when you came in but again, mostly misdemeanors. What I can tell you is if you get into trouble again, you will be serving your full sentence here.” I nod my head, understanding him perfectly.

“I got it.”

“Good. Then go back to your cell, and as soon as we can process everything, you’ll be released.” I nod my head and almost thankthe bastard, but instead, I follow the guard back out and down the halls until we’re back to my cell. I drop down on the cot and smirk to myself. Good behavior. I just fucking killed a man, how good is that?

Nevertheless, I’m going home. I’m fucking going home.

Three months in here has tested me. It’s tested me daily. I’ve done a lot of thinking and a lot of remembering. Not everything I’ve thought about has been good. I’m lost in thought when I hear Mark.

“You get in on that early release shit?” I sit back up and lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

“Yeah. Just told me.”

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