I felt free today. I stood in the open doorway of my jail and took a deep, fresh breath of air. I took several steps out into the real world. What I actually did was say hello to a friend I hadn’t talked to for years, Steve Lawpaugh. I grew up next to the Lawpaugh family. We played tag, darebase, kick-the-can, merry-go-round rides, and all the fun, outdoor games lost to this generation of video addicts. We had attended grade school and high school together. The memories flooded over me. It was wonderful to recall the old, carefree days.
Allen and I talked with him for an hour. It was incredible to have had the freedom to initiate the conversation. I hadn’t had to turn my eyes away and pretend I didn’t see him. I hadn’t had to cringe inside and die the thousand deaths, as I did a few years ago when I saw my old boyfriend in the same store.