"POWERS"

I looked up from the book Black Privilege I was reading, confused as to why my name was being called.

"Your lawyer has requested to see you, please follow me." The officer instructed.

I furrowed my eyebrows.

My lawyer?

I haven't seen him since my last appeal date. After three years  of trying to appeal my case and being denied multiple times, I finally gave up and decided to just serve my 15 year sentence.

"You're coming or not?" he interrupted me from my thoughts.

I kicked my legs off the edge of the bed and stood up and prepared myself to be handcuffed. I hate these heavy ass cuffs, it's bad enough I have to wake up everyday to this reality. However, having this heavy ass metal on my wrists and ankles made it all the more real. I feel like an animal in a cage.

Worst of all, I feel exactly how they painted me to be. A murder, a cop killer, a monster.

The loud clanking of the metal against the tile floor finally halted once I arrived in the private room just for clients and counsel. They freed my hands and feet from the shackles and roughly pushed me closer to the table. I mugged the officer and they slammed the door.

I watched my former lawyer as he shook his head at the action. He shouldn't be surprised, everyone knows how corrupt these goddamn pigs are. Especially to those who are labelled as cop killers.

During my first year here for some odd reason they placed me in solitary confinement without warning one day. I didn't receive mail, visits, and I was barely able to make any phone calls. The correction officers would shove my face in my food, push me around and it was one instance where they got a bunch of lackey ass niggas to beat the shit out of me to where I ended up in the infirmary for two weeks. I was used to being treated like shit here, that's why I just kept a low profile and kept my behind out of trouble, I was hoping to get released on good behavior, but due to the charges and the color of my skin... That was not possible.

"Mr. Powers, how have you been? It's been so long." He broke the silence.

I stared at his face, he has grown older in just these past few years, he had more wrinkles and his once salt and pepper hair was now snow white . Just looking at him in his name brand name suit, shiny cufflings, and his brand new Rolex watch that his wife probably bought him for their anniversary or some shit made me boil on the inside. Facing the reality that I was in an orange jumpsuit and it was partly because of him not doing his job made me want to lash out, but I kept my jaw tightened to keep the wrong things from being said.

"So how are you doing?" He tried to ask once again.

I leaned forward with my arms on the table "Cut the crap Jerry, why the hell are you here?" I wanted to get straight to the point.

He uneasily shifted in his seat and stared back at me.

"Keith I know you may be upset with me, but you have to learn how to take responsibility for your own actions."

"Responsibility for my own actions! Are you fucking with me man?" I slammed my fist on the table.

Watching the scared look on his face, made me retreat. Despite the way I felt and the thoughts going on in my mind, prison had changed me and I have thought about the role I played in my demise, but I have not fully accepted that I was the reason I am here.

"Listen Jerry, I apologize" I sighed.

"Look let's start over. I'm fine Jerry, but why are you here?" I asked getting straight to the point.

"Ok Keith. To make the long story short because you are a busy guy"

This motherfucker. I clenched my jaw in anticipation.

"Daniel Thompson, the arresting officer of your case is being investigated and charged with tampering and planting evidence on numerous cases that he was the arresting officer of. He's being charged with multiple counts of tampering, falsifying documents, and a long list of other things." He continued.

"Ok Jerry, but what does that have to do with me." I asked still confused.

"Kid, you're going to be getting out of here. Soon" He finished off.

For a moment, I let my guard down. My intense stare faded into sadness then into vindication.

"Are you serious Jerry?" I questioned with a smile like a kid on Christmas morning.

"Yeah kid, when I found out I pushed for your case to be reopened. Due to the your case being highly publicized, I was able to get priority. I had them retest the DNA and included it as evidence since the prosecutors failed to inform us that the DNA that was found was never tested and it would have cleared you of all charges! Then I spoke to the key witness and she specifically came clean that Officer Thompson threatened her the night before the trial. She said and signed legal documents that she saw you leave the scene before gunshots were even fired. I found another witness that fell through the cracks who corroborated her story. Apparently the officer that your friends murdered was Thompson's partner so from day one he had a vendetta against you young men." He leaned in closer.

"I am pushing them to process your release papers and you are getting out of here in a few days." He gave me a small smile.

I didn't know whether to be excited or angry at the moment. I felt sadness for that young man that walked through those prison doors a few years ago. I had my whole life ahead of me and it was wiped away for a stupid decision. I was angry that 8 years of my life have been taken that I will never get back. I lost a relationship with my mother, some of my family, and my former girlfriend who I  had to let go of because I couldn't bare the thought of her seeing me like this.

"Keith, Im sorry that you felt I didn't do everything in my power to help you. I truly am, but I'm doing everything now to right this wrong. You will never be able to get the years that you lost back, but you will be able to start anew. You will be able to change the course of your life from here on out. Just keep your nose and clean and relish in the moments you have now. Don't get so caught up in the past that you forget or neglect your future." He finished.

He was right. I spent some half of my served time being angry at the world, feeling lonely, wallowing, and praying that I would die just to escape this shithole. Then I spent the other half, talking to God, talking to a therapist, going to school, and learning how to let shit go that mean me no good.

This is the chance, I have been waiting for. This is the chance to make things right, this is the chance to break out of the reputation that I have gained ever since this case begun.

I'm a new man.

I shook Jerry's hand and he pulled me in for a hug. I smiled and let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding in. This was really it, I was really getting out of here.

"Also Jerry, dont call me kid anymore. I'm not that 19 year old kid that you saw eight years ago" I said.

We shared a laugh.

"I know Keith, you're a man now" he replied.
~

After dinner, I was able to make a quick phone call to my mother and surprise her with the news. Since I've been here, our relationship has been strained, but that doesn't stop her from speaking to me or putting money on my books from time to time and visiting me. However, she has kept my siblings from seeing me and even writing to me. But once my younger brother turned 18, he's been writing to me and I'm glad he did. His letters have gotten me through the rough times and I was glad he was the one piece of family I had left who hadn't turned their back on me and I loved that nigga for that.

I listened to the operator

"Keith" I said my name into the phone.

Before I knew it my mother had accepted the charges and I listened to her angelic voice on the other end.

"Hello."

"Ma! How you doing?"

"I'm good Keith, just finished cleaning the kitchen for the night. I'm about to get ready for bed, I have work in the morning. How are you doing sweetie?"

"I'm good Ma. Can't complain. Listen I know you're tired and I don't want to keep you long and you know this damn phone gone hang up soon so I just wanted to let you know I'm getting out Ma." I laughed nervously.

"Getting out of what?" She managed to ask.

I laughed "Ma, I'm getting out of here. Prison. Apparently, the officer on my case was a bad cop. Tampering with evidence and shit."

"Keith watch your mouth before I end up on the other side of this phone in a jumpsuit too."

"Sorry mom, but anyway. He was tampering with stuff, planting evidence, and filing fake police reports. They're investigating him and the many cases that he made arrest in. They reopened my case and DNA evidence and a witness have said that I was not there in the time of the shooting so I'm getting out." I cheesed.

"THANK YOU GOD" I heard my mom praise God.

Soon after I heard her sobbing into the phone, as she repeated praises to the most high. Hearing my mother cry broke my heart.

After she mumbled a small prayer to herself, we continued our conversation. However, that was quickly halted when I asked her a question.

"So Ma, when I get out I can come stay with you right?" I asked.

I just knew my mom would say yes, but she shocked me with her response.

She sighed "Keith baby, that's not a good idea."

My face fell, where the hell else was I supposed to go?

"We moved into a new house and it's really not that much space for you, just enough for Kaylan and Kevon, your father and I. I just don't want you to be uncomfortable. Plus your father doesn't think it will be a good idea if you're around your sister and brother".

A/N: I know Keith only has Kevin and Kaylan as siblings, but a much younger brother made more sense for this story.

"Oh that's why, cause your husband is back" I replied.

"Keith, don't start that's your father"

"Mom are you hearing yourself, you're not letting me come back because your husband says no? This is the same man that left us mama and you decide to take him back after what he did to us! You listen to him?"

"You have two minutes left"  the operator spoke up.

"Keith, listen I know what you're father has done, but I forgave him and you should too. We just think-"

"We? Or him? I'm your son mom".

"Keith, you being around the kids is not a good influence. Plus, do you have any idea what this trial took the family through? I lost my job, your sister and brother had to change schools because they were being bullied. Keith we had to move because we had newscasters outside our home and people vandalizing our home because of what you did!"

"But I told you Ma, I'm innocent"

"You think they give a damn about that son? All they know is what the news reported. They don't care about the truth."

"You have 30 seconds left"

"Keith, we will talk about this when you get out. Just call me when you know you're getting out and I'll arrange a ride for you. I love you baby, see you soon." She said.

"Yeah aight" I hung up the phone.

She'll arrange a ride for me? I sighed and leaned my head against the phone.

"Powers back to your cell now! Lights out soon"

I listened to the CO, not in the mood for shit.

I laid down in my cot, just processing what took place. I learned to forgive myself for being here, but forgiving my father is something I haven't learned how to do. I heard all the time that people felt like the black sheep of the family, the let down and I honestly felt like that's how my father felt about me. When I was a kid, he would be there all the time for games, he would walk me to school, help me with homework then all of a sudden he started to be distant. As I become more aware, I realized he had a drug problem to the point where he sold our things, gambled our house away and we had to move in a hotel. My mother had to work her ass off to the point we barely seen her. During that time I became the man, I did my sister's hair, made sure they bathed, helped them with their homework, stayed up and watched them because I was so afraid that someone would come and take us in the middle of the night. I made sure we ate, and everything in between.

I got tired of struggling and being a man so I did what any knuckle headed boy thought was best. I sold drugs. I sold enough to get my mom a home by the time I was 17. Not being one to keep things from my mom, I was honest about where the money came from. Although she threw a fit like any other parent would, she made me promise to quit once she was able to take care of the bills and to not sell out of our home, and do not get involved in any other shady shit.

Now because of this shit she acts like I'm just a disappointment like how am I not welcomed around my own siblings? I can't even go home, I just need somewhere to stay for a minute while I look for work and make enough to get out. She thinks I want to be 26 living with my mama?

Then she said she'll arrange a ride for me?

I just sucked my teeth and decided to clear my thoughts by reading before lights went out.

But I was too late, the lights cut off and after struggling to find some slight light, I gave up and decided to lay in bed and think about all the shit I could do when I get out.

I know I'll get to eat better, I'll be able to make my own money, go to bed when I want, listen to the music I want.

Then all of a sudden my mind went back to her, just like it did every other night when I was up this late. That's one more thing I could do when I get out, I could see her and apologize to her.

I smiled to myself thinking about all the good shit my Lil Bit was doing, she's a big time author now. She's doing the shit I imagined her doing, which is why I forbid her from seeing me anymore and broke it off with her.

I ruined my family's life, my life, but I promised myself I wouldn't hold her back before her life even got started. She was so catch up in being in love with me and trying to hold me down that she had to alter her life just to see me. She had to work to make money to find a way to visit, she had to take time off for my trial, she put money on my books initially, she was up waiting on me to call, she was exhausted from trying to juggle, school, work, and me. I could see it, she was tired. But she loved me, and that's the hardest thing to do to let someone go that you know loves you that will do anything for you.

And Tayler, she loved me.

I licked my lips and closed my eyes to imagine her, I missed her scent, I missed her laugh, and smile. I missed making love to her.

I had my brother keeping tabs on her, and he made it clear that he wasn't sure if she was seeing someone but she was hanging out with someone. That shit right there made my blood boil, but how can I be mad when I let her go?

I sighed, laying on my stomach to get comfortable enough to drift off to sleep.

Whenever I get out, hopefully I get the opportunity to at least see her again. I just want to hold her one more time and tell her I love her and tell her daddy's home to stay.

Maybe I'll have a chance...