Waiting Worlds 3: Released

I haven’t spoken to my mother for some time now. I never wanted to burden her with the problem that exists in prison. That was very selfish of me not including her in my life when it would have been a great relief to her to know that I was doing all right under these circumstances. The next morning I woke up earlier than usual to have time to use the phone before the other inmates woke up and start arguing over who was to use the phone first.

It can get pretty nasty when there are only five telephones for 190 inmates. This would be the first time I’ve called her in over a year. I called her unexpectedly last year for her birth and she about had a heart attack with excitement. After dialing the number I heard a soft but weak voice answer the telephone.

“Tim is that you?” Asked the soft voice.

I replied in full shame. “Yes mom.” “I had a feeling I should call you. I hope its not to early?”

“It’s never to early to hear from you.” Replied Tim’s mom.

I never did tell mom about my adventure in the tunnel. I don’t think she would believe me anyway. Mom explained to me that she has been battling breast cancer for the past year, and how hard it’s been to go through this all on her own. She has lost all her hair and is now wearing wigs to cover up her illness. She has also lost her left breast and the cancer has started to spread.

This news was not what I expected and I was determined to sit my time out and do everything I could to be to make my parole date coming up in six months.
I worked out in the gym everyday and stayed away from anyone that might draw negative attention. I still worked in the kitchen, but volunteered my free time in the library helping young inmates study for their GED. I had really turned around.

All that was over six months ago. I made parole and was getting ready to go home. I have been calling my mother once a week and we have regained the relationship we once had.

Capt. Brooks, the transportation supervisor had prepared the necessary paper work for my release. After signing my release papers he gave me my bus ticket before placing me in the holding cell until the transportation Sergeant could get the bus ready to take me and a few other inmates to the bus station.

About an hour later transportation SGT Barns loaded myself and several other inmates on the bus to take to the local bus station. It was a very relaxed atmosphere. I could here one of the inmates in the back of the bus yelling,

“We are free baby, Burger King here I come.”

All the inmates on the bus started singing their own version of the Lynyrd Skynyrds, Free Bird song as Sgt Barnes pulled onto the highway heading to the local bus terminal. The bus terminal was only about five miles from the prison. And everyone there knew when they stepped off that bus their prison time came to an end.

The bus became as loud as a bunch of school kids getting out of school, but this did not bother Sgt Barnes, he understood their excitement. He’s always said if he was ever locked up that he would be just as happy on his day of release. Sgt Barnes had been driving for the Department of Corrections for 15 years, but what was about to happen would change his life forever. Traveling about 45 mph Sgt Barnes was going around the same sharp curve he has driven a thousand times before, but this one time an on coming car was headed straight for him.

Sgt. Barnes immediately attempted swerved the bus toward the right shoulder of the road hitting the on coming car head on. The bus flipped and rolled several times down an embankment throwing me through the front windshield of the bus.

Lying in the ditch I could not fell my body. I looked down and saw that my mid section and intestines was also lying around me. My thoughts drifted to my sick mother as I started to loose consciousness. As I was thrown out the front windshield a piece of metal from the cabs frame tore open my stomach releasing my intestines. As my eyes began to close I could see the old man from the tunnel standing next to my father. Coming in view from a distance I recognized the little girl I had killed some years ago.

“I must be in shock.” I thought as the three came closer.

This could not be happening. Then I heard the faint sound of my fathers voice call to me.

“Welcome home son. I sorry it had to be this way, I am sure once I explain it will all be clear to you.” Said my father.

As I took my last breath, I watched as my father looked at the little girl that I had killed.

“Deals done.” Tim’s father finally told the little girl.

The little girl smiled and faded away with my dad and the old man from the tunnel.

It’s been a while since I’ve told this story to anyone, but it is true. My father had traded the undead spirit of that little girl for the spirit of my mother. The little girl still had so much life, while my mother suffered. One week after my death, my mother was retested on the status of her cancer. It was as if the cancer had never been there. Her hair grew back and she gained 30 pounds. She lived another 30 years. The book has never been seen again.

As I sit here with the father I really never knew until know and have accepted the forgiveness from the little girl I had killed so many year ago. I have now realized that there is a meaning to everything we do in life especially knowing that my mother would live a long healthy life. I am finally free. I have realized we might not understand some of the hardship we endure in our life time, but we also do not know the reason for them and the consequences that will have in the life we not yet know.