“Oh, if only I was your age, I’d chase down that Paul Hollywood and make a man out of him.”
“Mrs. Honey!” I shriek as I nearly double over with laughter. She winks at me and opens the back door, and I walk out.
I wait for a second until I hear the door lock and then go back to my place, shaking my head. She’s always such a hoot.
Before I go inside I grab the mail and tuck it under my arm. As soon as I open the door I go straight for the alarm and enter my code, then lock the door and set the alarm again. The house is warm and feels cozy on such a cold night, and not for the first time I’m thankful that I’ve got this place.
I set the mail on the kitchen counter and go hang up my coat. After that I set the soup on the counter and grab a bowl from the cupboard. I spoon some out and pop it in the microwave as my stomach growls. While I’m waiting I sort through the mail, which is mostly junk and addressed to the construction company.
The last thing on the bottom is a small letter that the ink has been smudged on. When I look to see where it’s from I notice the stamp in the corner has the name of the prison Rocco was sent to.
I gasp and nearly drop the letter in my speed to get it open. The microwave dings, but I ignore it as I take a seat at the bar and spread out the piece of paper.
The whole thing looks like it’s been smudged, but I wonder if that’s just his way of writing. When I see my name at the top I want to let my excitement bubble up, but I’m afraid to have too much hope.
* * *
Lizzy,
I’m not great at writing, so I’ll do my best. I got your request for a visit and I’m sorry but I had to turn it down. I’m not sure what you think you’ll see if you’re face to face with me, but I don’t think it will be anything good.
I know you were in the courtroom and I couldn’t bring myself to look at you. Maybe that makes me a coward, but the image of you scared on the street was enough to haunt me for a lifetime and I didn’t want to add to that at my sentencing.
Thank you for looking into my case and trying to find me some kind of justice, but I’m where I belong for what I did. I think you might be the only person on the planet that thinks what I did was heroic, but I’d do it all over again to save you.
You deserve to have closure on this and if I can give it to you I will. I wish I would have finished the job with that piece of shit for ever daring to put his hands on you. No man should get to touch something so innocent, including me.
Don’t look at me like some guardian angel because I don’t deserve it. I’m just a man who saw you in need and took care of business. Maybe there was more to it, but there’s nothing I can do about that now.
I don’t know what else to say, but I’ve read your letter about a hundred times and probably will read it a hundred more before this one gets to you. If you want to keep writing, I won’t send them back. But I can’t see you like this, not now at least.
You may not realize it, but in a way you’re the one that saved me. I might be behind bars, but I wasn’t alive before the moment I saw you.
* * *
The one you saved,
Rocco
* * *
I set the letter down on the counter and for some reason I want to cry. I stare into space as I try to process all that he’s said and what it all means. I saved him? My heart pounds in my chest and when the microwave beeps again I nearly fall over on the stool.
I put my hand over my heart and blink a few times before I get up and rush over to my desk for pen and paper. If he wants another letter, then I’ll make sure he’s getting one every single day.
Six
LIZZY
I glance at the envelope that’s peeking out from inside of my purse and pray I got at least one picture right. I have no idea what came over me when I thought it would be a good idea to send a picture of myself. I went online and read the rules of what was allowed to be sent and knew a simple headshot would be fine. It’s what I wanted to send anyway, so it worked out.