On my release day

Two men stood before me, both dressed in black, like the gloomy weather—oppressive, suffocating.

My brother, Alfie, and my childhood friend, Theo. One held a black umbrella; the other leaned against a car door. Their eyes were fixed on me.

They looked profoundly concerned, almost tender. If only they weren't the very ones who'd put me here.

They’d made sure I received "special attention" inside. If it weren't for the constant ache in my body, I might have been moved to tears by their solicitude.

Three years ago, I hurt Ruby.

I held the knife that plunged into her, watching her crumple before my eyes.

She gave me a triumphant smile just before two figures burst onto the scene.

Theo restrained me, wrenching my arms behind my back. Alfie, arriving moments later, kicked me down a flight of stairs in that abandoned building.

I tumbled halfway down before hitting the concrete floor. There was no time for explanations before the cuffs snapped shut.

And so began my life of swill water, filthy drainage ditches, and soiled clothes.

New wounds bloomed daily on my skin; bruises hadn't healed before fresh ones purpled elsewhere.

It took a long time to learn survival – learning to curry favor with the cell block leader, finding a sliver of protection, just to lessen the beatings.

Once, after I’d groveled particularly well, she told me, "You pissed off someone powerful to land here, didn't you? Someone paid good money just to teach you a lesson. Pathetic, getting on the wrong side of people you shouldn't cross."

I knew exactly who she meant. Theo held the most sway. Hurting his beloved Ruby, he truly wanted me to suffer endlessly.

But he was also the one who once shielded me with everything he had.

He once lit up the entire city with fireworks for my birthday. From the highest point, they illuminated the sky all night long.

I ignored them both and walked past. If I could help it, I never wanted to see either of their faces again.

"Now that you're out, stay on the straight and narrow," Alfie said, opening the car door. "Let's go home."

The irony was almost laughable. The man who'd personally delivered me to prison was now holding a car door open, telling me to come home.

On the day I was imprisoned, my parents, rushing frantically to the courthouse, died in a car crash.

My brother, Alfie, was busy securing my conviction. I never saw our parents. Neither did Alfie.

He wasn't my biological brother. He was the boy my parents adopted.

At that moment, hatred consumed me.

Ruby stepped out of the car. She pushed her bangs aside and smiled sweetly.

"Your brother and I are together now. Starting today, I'm your sister-in-law. You've paid for hurting me with three years of your life. I forgive you."

My fists clenched, the urge to tear off her mask of innocence almost overwhelming.

She leaned closer, whispering words meant only for my ears, "Guess why your parents had that accident?"

My eyes widened. In Ruby’s gaze, I saw the devil himself. I shoved her aside and kept walking.

I was terrified I might actually kill her right then.

I could feel them behind me, sense Ruby’s victory radiating off her. Through the rearview mirror ahead, I saw her nestled in my brother's arms, weeping dramatically.

I curled my lips into a smile.

Ruby ran after me, grabbing my hand. To an outsider, it might have looked like concern. "Remember to come to our wedding," she hissed under the guise of a gentle touch. "I want you to see just how pathetic you look right now."