Lucy POV
Tomorrow is my last day in jail and it almost feels like I’ve only been locked in here for a week. Time passed by so fast, and my five-year sentence is finally coming to an end.
I was convicted of a crime I didn't commit. It's ironic that I’m the one who took all the blame when the guilty were out free having the time of their life with my son.
I clenched my fist in anger. I looked at the metal bars in front of me that made me feel like a murderer for five years. Life is unfair. If you're poor, you're always poor, and if you're rich, you will become richer.
Just wait, though, the world will soon be mine.
"Hey, Lucy, aren't you excited? We're going to be free at last tomorrow!" Cassandra sat beside me with a smile on her face. I can see how happy she is and how she waited for this day to come.
Arian and Gwen only stare at us like jealous neighbors. They were only nice to me after the incident that they would never forget.
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Flashback All of the inmates were taken out to do a clean-up outside the prison. It was Lucy's second day, and she was just following her group silently.
"Get brooms and other cleaning materials, ladies, and we will start the beautification of this backyard," one of the officers shouted.
Everyone, including Lucy, started to get their materials when Arian intentionally pushed her. Lucy fell to the ground and got a deep bruise on her arms.
Cassandra saw it.
"Hey, what did you do?" She quickly crouched to help Lucy.
Lucy didn't want to stain her hands with violence, so she held her anger. She glared at Arian and the other women who cheered Arian on, and laughed at Lucy. She made her hand into a ball, secretly clutching a stone inside. When she got up, her hands flew like a rocket and launched a stone directly at Arian's nose.
She felt dizzy and screamed when blood started to flow from Arian’s nose. After two minutes, she dropped to the ground. Everyone started to applaud her. Since that day, no one dared to touch or bully her. Even Cassandra praised her.
"Wow! You're so cool! I didn't know that you knew how to box!" she said, and Lucy smiled at her finally. That day they became friends.
---
It feels good to be free from prison. I miss the fresh air of the outside world.
I promise to get back all that you’ve taken and stolen from me, Eloisa and Kent. I will never forgive either of you, even in your last breath.
"So I guess it's time for us to part ways?" Cassandra said while both of them were waiting for a cab.
Lucy shrugged her shoulders but couldn’t help feeling sad.
"Yes, maybe. You're lucky because you have a beautiful daughter waiting for you. All I can say is live a good and fruitful life because life is short. We don't know what will happen next."
Cassandra was grateful that she met Lucy. She never had a friend like Lucy, who would listen to her about her life. They both waved their hands to say goodbye to each other.
Lucy decided not to see her father for the sake of his safety. She also didn't want to disturb his peaceful life. She hoped that Gregory took good care of him and visit him a lot. She was ashamed to show her face after the scandal that happened five years ago.
At the age of thirty-two, Lucy is mature enough to make decisions on her own. She was thinking about where to go and stay. She thought she found a new friend, but sadly he evaporated into thin air. She didn't know why she didn't care to visit him. Her face was all over the news, so how could he forget her? She was certain that he looked like Kent. Was it a coincidence that he resembled Kent? She knew that Kent was the only son and heir of Mr. Alexander Stone. It was impossible that he had a brother.
She had nothing in her wallet, except for five dollars. When they brought her to jail, no one remembered to visit her and that broke her heart. She tried to contact Gregory, but his phone was off. She asked the police to check her father for her, but they told her there was nothing to worry about because they assigned an officer to guard him for twenty-four hours.
Past is past. Nothing will change. She was broken into pieces and the only person who could fix her was her son, Austin. Tears started to stream down her face. No, she couldn't cry right now. She should be glad that she was free, which meant that she was free to get her revenge. So why was she crying in the middle of traffic?
"No, Lucy, you're not a fool anymore. Don't cry, please!" she's told herself over and over again until a taxicab stopped in front of her.
The driver rolled down the car window and asked if she needed a ride, but Lucy told the driver that she had only five dollars. The driver was wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses, which made Lucy hesitant to ride with him.
The guy smirked while taking off his hat and sunglasses. Lucy's eyes widened when the driver finally revealed himself.
"Gregory? How did you know that—"
"Just hop inside. Let's talk later. I know you're broke. Come on, let's go to your father!" Gregory commanded her but Lucy had clouds of questions in her head.
He hadn’t shown up for five years to visit her. She tried to call him, but his phone was not available. How can he show up now as if nothing happened? She had to act and think smart. She can't be fooled by anyone anymore.
"No, thanks. I'm good,” she said and ran away from him.
"Wait, Lucy, come back! Let me explain! I'm sorry!" Gregory called her, but she didn't look back.
Everything was clear to her now. The world was a cruel place.
The only place she needed to go was in Tagaytay, where she and Gale used to go to release her burdens. Maybe he was right. She wasn't ready to go back to the real world if she held back everything—if she still had heartaches and deep scars. To be prepared for the war that she must face alone, she must leave all this remorse and guilt behind.
"Why! Why me? Why of all people? Ahhh!!" she yelled to no one.
While she was in the middle of cursing everyone and herself, a familiar voice called her attention to stop.
"I thought you forgot this place!" a man said while ambling closer towards her.
Lucy slowly turned her head. She knew that sweet and calm voice.
"Gale?" she mumbled, and a smile crossed Gale's face.
"I'm sorry I missed coming here for five years. I just got back from the U.S." That's when Lucy realized that he was ignorant of what had happened to her.