The sun lit up the room. I gently open my eyes and saw the birds flying freely in the air. Freedom of their own.

I sat on my bed and close my eyes, thanking God for another blessing. And this day will be special, finally meeting my daughter for such a long time. I still have a lot of things to prepare for and bring good news to them.

I went to the bathroom to clean myself. Ace and Gordon woke up late. They stay up all night talking about what will they do if they'll be released soon. They seem very excited about it.

Right after I finish, Ace was standing right in front of the door waiting for me to go out while his towel was hanging on his shoulder and next to him was Gordon. With dark circles underneath their eyes, they look like exhausted lizards.

They didn't get enough sleep, but they didn't have any choice; they have to get up early to do our short cleaning session before we were given free time to interact with the visitors.

After they took a bath, we started cleaning our cells

"Dude! Your blanket stinks. What did you do with this?" Ace coughs between his word and tosses the blanket on Gordon's face, disgusted by it.

"What about this you jackass!" Gordon placed a magazine in front of him with women in bikinis almost showing their forbidden parts.

"Th-that's-oh, shut it, give it back! Before I break your neck," Ace steals the magazine out of Gordon's hands and inserted it in his pants.

Both of them look at me with suspicions in their eyes. "come on Jax, we know you have your dirty little secret too"

"H-huh?!"

Both of them hop on my bed and started searching for something that they could tease me, sniffing my pillow, blanket, and towel.

But they haven't found anything, "you can't find anything cause I don't have one" I chuckled as I look at them, desperate to find something.

"Nuh, boys always have their dirty secret" Gordon smiled like a creep as he continues to search for nothing.

"I give up! I guess our Jax is pure" Ace was panting and placed his hands on his hips. Breathing heavily, unlike Gordon, who's full of energy and keeps on searching.

"Ahuh! Found it!" He turns around and sniffs my sock. "This smells something different," he sneered while locking his gaze on me.

Oh shit!

After we cleaned our cell, we were assigned to clean the yard. Officers are monitoring us from time to time.

So there's no hour for slacking. Except for earlier.

Time seems to pass quickly. The three of us sat down on the floor. Getting exhausted from cleaning.

A foot appeared in front of me, and so I tilted my head and saw a man crossing his arms.

"Liam," I greeted.

"You must be so tired, huh?"

"I prefer exhausted"

He chuckled before he handed me a hand; I took his hand for support and stood up. "It's very sunny today, a great day to stay under the sun," he initiates a conversation.

We walk outside as he still keeps on questioning, "I heard your release soon"

"Yeah, and I can't wait to finally be with Athena" we continued walking, observing the other prisoners playing the court. Some were chilling in the grass, some were reading the bible.

"It was your daughter's birthday yesterday"

"Yup and I just prepare her birthday gift"

We sat on a bench and stared at the clouds, forming random things to think of. "Have you heard about the actual cause of the incident, right? Your aunt Darling"

"Yeah, it's because of Athena's mother, Amelia. But I moved on to the Past, I already forget everything about the past"

"Not just forget about the past, but also learn from the past," he smiled at me and patted my shoulder before standing up.

"Gonna head out first, still a lot of things to do" he bid his goodbye and left. I stayed sitting on the bench reminiscing everything. But I can no longer feel any hatred right now. I'm starting to understand and forgive.

A woman arrived in the visitor's area. I think she's around 20. She's holding her hand together, obviously getting scared to be all alone. Suddenly, Ace stood up and came towards her. It must be her sister.

All of a sudden, I felt Gordon's presence beside me, which makes me flinch in surprise.

"Don't scare me like that, Gordon"

"What? I didn't do anything yet"

We were just looking at Ace talking with his sister. Gordon suddenly snapped, "she's pretty, right?" his eyes stayed with her while smiling.

"Don't tell me?! Oh my god, Gordon!"

"Hey! I'm just complimenting her, duh!"

The woman stood up and smiled at Ace before she walks away. Ace turned his back and came towards us wearing his smiley face, and I haven't seen him smile like that before. It's new to me. He sat beside Gordon, keeping his mouth shut, keeping his lips curved.

"You're creeping me out. Cut it out Ace, it's unusual for you to smile"

"Can't I be happy? Shut up dumbass"

"Oh actually, Gordon is acting that way so he'll get the chance to talk with your sis—" Gordon immediately covered my mouth and push me away, "Nah, don't mind this jerk, he forgot to take his medicine"

I was struggling to take his hands away from me. Ace squints his eyes, alternating his gaze to the both of us, not so sure who'll he trust.

When I finally took Gordon's hands, I continued what I was about to say.

"-so he could hook up with your sister! "

"Damn you, Jax!"

I run away from him, but he chases me immediately. We were running all around the place, and that made everyone catch their attention to us. Some prisoners laugh at us, and so do the other officers who were on guard.

After a few minutes, an officer called me to that someone was looking for me. My smile wides up to my ears, guessing who that person arrives. I took the portrait in my cell and rushed going to the visitors' area. I felt ineffable emotions after I saw my child running toward me with giggles.

Athena was standing in front of me with eyes filled with tears. She wrapped her arms around my neck as I came toward her. "I miss you," she whispered. I let go of the hug and face her. She looks very tired.

Shyra leans on my leg and wrapped her arms around it. I crouch down and handed her the portrait I made, "belated happy birthday sweetheart." Her eyes glimmered with joy. She took the portrait and surveyed the detail on it.

"It looks exactly like me!" she pointed out.

"Uncle Ace and uncle Gordon!" Shyra shouted as soon as she saw both of them.

Athena and I sat down as we stayed our gaze on our daughter who's now playing with Ace and Gordon.

"What happens to your lips?"

"I accidentally bit my lip when Shyra hits her head with my chin" she looks at me and held her lips while my gaze stayed on the three of them.

"Then what happens to your neck? Is that a hickey?"

"The curler, I accidentally burn myself"

"What about your hand?"

"The cat—wait, what's with this too much question? You surveyed me with so much detail"

"Because it's visible" this time I face her. Her visual changed a little, she became even more attractive. And I can't help to admire her beauty.

"Stop staring..." her cheeks turn red and she didn't know where to look as she felt embarrassed by my gaze.

"I can't take my eyes off of you"

She wasn't able to respond and just stare at me, searching through my eyes as if I was telling the truth. Women.

Before she could finally speak, Shyra interrupted, "Mommy, daddy let's play together!" she grabbed both of our hands and dragged us where Ace and Gordon are.

We spend our time entertaining Shyra, and she enjoyed it a lot. Time flies so fast, the sun has already set and the visiting time has ended.

But before they left, I called Shyra to come closer, she was running towards me and I lean on her ear and whispered, "Daddy's going to be released soon, don't tell mommy about this, it's a secret" her smiles rise to her ears and her eyes glimmers in excitement.

She places her index finger on her lips, "Shhh" she chuckled and kisses my cheek before running back to her mother.

Days passed so quickly since they visited. Ace was already released earlier. His smiles were priceless when he finally steps outside. And both Gordon and I will surely miss him.

"Tomorrow is your release date, right?"

"Yeah, I'll travel around the world to find myself again and find another purpose to live. That's my plan"

My lips curved as I stare at him on his bed. I'm happy for him. Every day, I prayed that this day would finally come.

The next morning, Gordon bid me goodbye and gave me a last hug before departing.

"Take care bud" I patted his shoulder and so he did, "you too" those were his last words before he turns his back and left the cell together with a police officer.

Now that I'm alone, the cell feels lonely and empty. A very depressing place to stay. It reminds me of myself from the past, of how I used to be before. If I haven't met those two, what could've happened to me?

The sun rises and the first ray of light lits the room. Today will be my release day. The documents were already settled, and by noon, I was officially free.

Keanu is assigned to supervise me. I fix my bag and step outside together with him. "Keanu, before I head up home, I want to go somewhere."

"Yeah sure, I've got no problem with that"

I went straight to the cemetery and stand before a gravestone. I place a fresh flower above it and remove the dead leaves that are covered in it.

I look up into the sky, and the moving clouds ease up my mind. "Mom, dad, Jace, Jasmine. Hope you're all doing fine. Nothing to worry about me, the pain finally left in me," I whispered to myself.

Keanu stayed on my back, patiently waiting for me to finish. "Jax, I'll check on you every day, every morning," he informed.

"Okay, thank you, Keanu"

"Just doing my work. Let's go?"

I nodded and we both enter the car, driving to my house. When I arrived, I was standing in front of the door. Before I enter, I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. I twist the doorknob and stayed noiseless to surprise them. I went upstairs and heard their voices. I think Athena's telling a story.

I entered the room, not leaving any sound. Shyra saw me, and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Da-daddy?"

Athena turns around, following Shyra's gaze. Her lips parted as soon as she saw me. She immediately glomps at me and wrapped her arms around my neck, hugging me even tighter. Shyra also left her bed and runs toward me. I lifted her as she buried her face in my neck. There I realize Shyra's burning hot.

"Wait, Shyra, why are you so hot?" I place the back of my hand against her forehead and check her temperature.

"Shyra caught a fever. She already takes her medicine. By the way, why are you here?" Athena answered instead.

"Aren't you happy I'm here?"

"You don't know how much I wished you to be here, Jax-wait! Did you escape?!"

I chuckled at her reaction. Her eyes rounded and covered her lips. "Yeah, why not?" I sneered and raise my brow.

"Seriously Jax?! I'm going to call Keanu right now!"

I laughed at her while she was opening her phone to call Keanu, "chill woman, I didn't escape. I'm just messing with you. They released me due to good actions inside the cell, parole in fact"

"Really?"

I nodded and smiled at her. Her eyes sparkled, filled with tears. I held her cheeks and wipe a tear from her face.

"I'll never going to leave you again, I'll never let you suffer again and I'll never let you feel lonely again. So lean on me and hold unto me"

I held the back of her head and lean it against my chest while my other arm was lifting Shyra, still burying her face in my neck.

"I'm here for the both of you... Always"