Freedom in the Air
The metal gates of the South Carolina Women's Correctional Facility creaked open, releasing me into the world beyond. For seven years, I had been trapped within those towering walls, but now, the spring breeze hit my face like a long-forgotten friend. It carried scents I had nearly forgotten—fresh grass, car exhaust, and the unmistakable aroma of someone's barbecue drifting from a nearby house, rich with the sweetness of smoke.
I froze for a moment, squinting against the unusually bright sun, my hand clutching the worn canvas bag that held my personal belongings. Inside that bag was all that remained of my former life. A small plastic evidence envelope contained a pair of tarnished earrings Alvin had given me once, a cracked compact mirror, and a faded photograph of Jasmine and me laughing on Folly Beach—the last summer before everything fell apart.
While a guard completed the final paperwork, I signed the release forms mechanically, trying not to notice the indifference in her eyes. To the system, I would always be a criminal. The one who stole nearly a million dollars from the company I once worked for. And they didn’t care that I was innocent.
