Member-only story
#memoir Contest/The New Literary Society
Everyone Deserves a Second Chance
His love for her made all the difference
Ricardo had sat in the same prison cell for four years. His life seemed as though it was over before it got started.
His mom died while he was in prison, and they took him to the funeral in handcuffs. His dad died of alcohol poisoning alone, and he had no idea where his two sisters were. He turned twenty-one in a few days and had no future for himself.
"This life is only for the ones with family, and it looks like I have none," he told his cellmate.
“At least you know who your parents were."
"Hey Ricardo, pack your stuff. You go to your new home, The Rehab place.” the guards chuckled.
They knew Ricardo would have a hard time there, too. They were required to submit three job applications a week, see their parole officer once a week, and observe a strict curfew.
"Yeah, I got you!! Anything better than Jackson." Ricardo said with a grin and smirk.
Ricardo gave his cellmate his reading materials and toiletries as he left.
"Man, thanks. I’ll see you outside soon."
"Okay, Sam, keep your nose clean!!"
When Ricardo arrived at the rehab facility, a massive man with tattoos and a beard met him at the door.
“Hey, I am Nick, the head of this house. You are in apartment 9.”
Rules:
- Keep the apartment clean.
2. You have three other roomies.
3. Take turns with chores and laundry.
4. Respect their privacy.
5. No drugs or alcohol, no girls.
6. In by 10 pm.
7. Put in three applications a week, and when you get a job, you are to pay forty percent rent, forty percent you save, and live on twenty percent.
8. You take turns cooking and cleaning the main hall daily, which is how you feed yourself. You also make lunch for yourself to take to work.
