Lights Out

JUNE 19, 2023: (Twenty Years Later) TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

It’s not so bad here. I actually see myself living here for a pretty long Time, considering I have been here for over twenty years. I have no roommates and no curfews. I get free food given to me three times a day and I even get to go outside in the yard. At the same time, it’s no vacation. I am in a 24/7 lockdown. Everything I do, everything I say is all supervised.    

   One thing that I miss the most is being part of a family that once existed. I get to only see them when they visit me. I am not allowed to leave and visit them whenever I feel like it. I see them twice a month for forty minutes. You see, I have been convicted of a couple of murders and I was sentenced to sixty years to life in prison with a possibility of parole. Myself, I lost my freedom since the day I shot and killed someone I knew very well. My brother Jared and this man were once good friends. His name was Frank Davidson. Everyone in my family got along with him but my father. I met Frank when I was fifteen years old. He had a son, Scott Davidson. I was actually in love with Scott for many years. He was twenty when I met him and that was mainly the reason why I never told Scott or anyone that I felt the way I did towards him. I never told him until I was old enough and I was absolutely sure that I still felt this way towards him. The guard just came to my cell and told me that I have thirty five minutes and it’s light out. Don’t worry, this guard is cool. He usually comes back at 11:00pm and gives me a little flashlight so I can continue writing. He knows how much time I spent writing. It was funny because he once said to me he never saw a person like me who loved to write as much as I did. It’s all I have left and no one can take that away from me. Got a bit side tracked and there isn’t much time. It’s not like I have anywhere to go. My birthday is coming up and it’s going to be my 43rd birthday and I decided that I will give myself the greatest gift from one month today. No specific reason but I have already made the decision. As I was saying the whole reason I am here is I thought I was protecting myself. It would have either been me or them. I chose them.