Thanks To You!

*4 years later*

‘We find the defendant non-guilty of the charges. All charges have been dropped as the DNA on the gun was found to be Mr Victor Fuentes as he pulled the trigger. Mr Fuentes will be placed in a mental hospital as he is unfit for trial and Mr Gaskarth is free to go.’
I sighed in relief. Mum and Melody cheered as I was escorted out the room with Zack by my side.

‘I’m so happy you are out of there now. All of us have been working non-stop to show that you were an innocent man.’ Zack said. He grabbed my shoulders before bringing me in for a hug. I returned it gladly.

‘Dad!’ Melody said as she ran up to me, a big massive smile on her face, tears falling from her eyes. I turned around and caught her as she jumped. I hugged her tightly, embracing her with all my energy.

‘I have missed you so much baby girl.’ I replied, crying a little into her hair.

‘I knew you didn’t do it.’ she said. I nodded my head and laughed.

‘Thanks for believing in me for the past 2 years.’ I said.

‘The last 4 years, I knew you didn’t do it, even when I was four!’ she said.

‘I can’t believe you are 8. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.’ I replied.

‘Shhh dad, not now. Can we just go home and spend time together?’ Melody asked. I nodded my head in reply.

Mum tapped me on the shoulder, grabbing my attention as Melody and I were walking away, trying to avoid the press. I turned to her and before I even faced her, she embraced me tightly.

‘Mum, I love you so much. I am so so sorry!’ I said to her.

‘Stop talking, lets just go home.’ She stated.

We drove home in a comfortable silence. The radio played quietly in the background. I could feel Melody staring at me. I was so afraid to look at her. The thought of her so much when I was away. It must be so hard on a young girl to start school without her parents, to grow up without her parents. I feel like I have failed her.

The car came to a stop when we got to the house. I looked around at the surroundings and saw that the house and neighbourhood were completely different. The house was repainted, the lawn was freshly mowed, the garden beds planted with brightly coloured roses. The house felt happy, it felt like home.

Everyone got out, leaving me in awe as they walked to the door. I felt a tug on my arm and turned to see Melody smiling at me. She grabbed my hand and pulled me out the car, walking me to the house. She slowly walked in, looking back with a cheeky grin on her face.
As I looked in, a banner was placed over the fire place reading ‘welcome home’ and a bunch of people standing around, smiling in my direction.

I choked back tears as I stood at the end of the room, looking at everyone in the room. The room was dead quiet until a voice in the kitchen spoke.

‘So we better get into place before…’ Jack started saying before he stopped in his tracks.

His gaze was on mine and he nearly dropped the plate he was holding. Zack grabbed the plate as Jack walked so slowly over to me, jaw still ajar. It became a lot harder for me to hold back the tears as I reached my arms out when Jack approached me. He walked right into my hold and held me back even tighter.

Jack pulled himself away from me, resting his hands on my shoulders. He looked over me before speaking.

‘You look so amazing. For someone wrongly accused.’

‘I did what I had to do to survive. I held you all close to my heart and prayed that I’d come out alright.’ I replied, looking around the room.

I could feel the rooms happiness. It was great to feel so loved after being away for such a long time. The room broke out into chatter between everyone as I walked off to use the bathroom.

The sound faded away as I closed the door. As the sound was gone, my entire body began to shake. Looking in the mirror, I saw a tired, worn down man looking back.

The fact that I have been released from prison for about a half hour, the fear and anxiety have finally hit. My chest cramped, making my breathing shape. The oxygen in the room became harder to breath before my vision went blurry.

Holding onto the basin, I felt my body give way, it falling to the floor. I starred at the light before resting my eyes.

‘Alex? Alex!’ Jack said as he knocked in the door.

‘Yeah?’ I replied.

‘Are you okay? Can I come in?’ he asked, turning the door handle.

‘Yeah. Come in’ I looked up at him as his eyes fell upon me.

He frowned and went to ask before I shook my head. Instead, he took a seat next to me, looking over me with a short smile.

The air in the room began to return to normal, my lungs filling up with the smell of soap and Jack's deodorant. My eyes hurt and I was tired. I moved my head to his shoulder and let everything go.

‘You still smell the same.’ I said, moving my eyes upwards. Jack chuckled at me.

‘Are you sure you are okay?’ Jack asked.

‘I'm the best I can be. I'm home with my daughter, my mum, my best friends, you.’ I replied.

‘Me?’

‘Yes you? Don't sound shocked. I was afraid I'd never see you again.’

‘I thought it was best that I stayed away while you were in Jail. I thought I was doing the right thing.’

I stood up, angry about what he said. I thought about what to say next. Was I mad? Was I happy he didn’t come see me at my worst.

‘Jack, I went to jail, for you. If that doesn't prove that I love you, I don’t know what will.’

Notes

SO I AM A PIECE OF SHIT FOR NOT UPLOADING! I CANT EVEN GIVE A GOOD EXCUSE BECAUSE IT'S SO LAME.

BUT I UPLOADED AND I HOPE SOMEONE IS STILL READING BECAUSE NOW THAT I HAVE WRITTEN THIS, I JUST WANT TO KEEP WRITING NOW

AGAIN, I AM SO SO SORRY FOR BEING BAD.