A Person From the Past

Chapter 4: A Person from the Past

AURORA

When the police said I was going to be in jail for a long time, he wasn’t joking.

I’ve been locked up for months, so long that I stopped counting. How did I even end up here? I can’t tell. It happened like a dream. The trial was a blur, like a flash of lightning. When the judge’s verdict came out, it was twenty years for conspiracy and murder.

Twenty years.

The case happened so fast, my fate was decided in less than forty-eight hours.

Now, here I am, behind bars. My son was taken away from me, and the fact that he’s now with the Wolfe family breaks my heart even more. They’ve already started planting bad seeds about me, painting me as a murderer. That…that hurts more than the judge’s words.

“Hey! What’s that killer doing over there? Come here!”

The taunt came from behind. Inmates. Again.

I didn’t pay attention. I’ve been the object of bullying since day one, just because I’ve maintained my innocence till the end, i never agreed to the verdict that i killed my husband.

Grabbing my plate, I walked toward the table, ignoring the stares that burned into my back. I was about to sit when one of them stuck out her leg.

I tripped.

The plate flew from my hands, and the tray landed on my head. The sharp edge smacked my skull, sending a dull throb through me. I screamed in pain as laughter erupted around me like wildfire.

“Just look at her,” one of them sneered. “Still pretending, huh?”

“You think you’re better than us? Trying to act holy?” another spat.

They kept going, their words slicing through the air. But I didn’t respond. I pushed myself up slowly, only for one of them to shove me back down.

I tried again. She shoved me harder this time, and my head slammed against the iron bar beside the table.

Pain exploded across my skull. Warm blood trickled down my temple. My vision swam, but I still looked around desperately for a guard but none of them were around .

Of course. That meant they could do whatever they wanted.

“Wanna fight now?” one of them taunted.

“I never said I wanted to,” I whispered through clenched teeth, tears stinging my eyes. “Please…let me go to the nurse. My head…it’s hurting…”

My plea fell on deaf ears.

The leader smirked, grabbed the iron bar, and started hitting me with it.

The first strike stole my breath. The second tore a scream from my throat. “P-please!” I sobbed, clutching my head. “I did nothing wrong to you guys!”

“LADIES!”

The roar cracked through the chaos like thunder. A female guard stormed in, eyes blazing. The circle broke. One by one, they slinked back to their seats, leaving me bleeding on the cold floor.

I sucked in a shaky breath, letting the tears flow freely now.

“Please, God,” I mumbled, my voice breaking. “You know I’m innocent. Don’t let me die in here without a chance to tell my son the truth…”

“Let’s get you to your cell. We’ll send the nurse in,” the guard muttered, hooking her arm under mine.

They took me back to my cell.

Thirty minutes passed. No nurse. I pressed the emergency bell. No answer.

So I did what I could. I grabbed my towel, soaked it under the warm tap, and pressed it against my head. The sting was brutal. I bit down a scream, until it tore out anyway.

“Shut the fuck up!” someone yelled from another cell.

I slapped a palm over my mouth, crying silently as pain burned through me. Then I threw myself on the bed and bawled like a child.

What did I do to deserve this? Why was fate this cruel? What was my offense?

“Miss Aurora, you have a visitor.”

The announcement yanked me upright. My heart soared. Mom, I turned to see her with so much enthusiasm but it wasn’t just her.

The second person made my blood freeze.

The last man I ever thought I’d see here. The man I erased from my memory.

“Long time no see…” His voice was smooth, calm but it cut deep and it was ringing in ear , i had even forgotten how he sounded like or did i ?

I stood there frozen, one hand clutching my wound. My throat was dry instantly. .

“He requested to see you,” Mom’s voice broke the silence .

The guard stepped in. “She’ll join you in a minute. Head to the waiting room.”

They turned to go.

“Mom…what is he doing here?” My voice trembled.

She stopped, glanced at me, and said softly, “He’s here to help.”

“Yes,” he added smoothly, turning his eyes on me. “Do you have a problem with that?”

Before I could answer, the guard ushered them away.

I blinked, once, twice, three times , just to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. Damon Silverstein. In my cell block. After seven years.

Seven years since the most explosive breakup of my life. Seven years since I swore I’d never see him again.

And now…this?

I sat on the edge of my bed, breath ragged, pacing in circles before the guard returned and escorted me to the waiting room.

The moment I walked in, Damon’s eyes locked on me

I couldn’t look back. Not in these handcuffs. Not in this ugly orange uniform. This wasn’t a reunion. This was humiliation.

“Mom, what is this? Why is he here?” I asked, my voice cracking.

“Aurora,” Mom sighed. “You should at least say hello to him first.”

“Why?” I shot back. “I asked a question.”

Before she could respond, her eyes flicked to my bruises. “What happened to you? Are they treating you badly in here? Those bruises….Aurora, do you want us to move your cell, Is that possible ?” She fired off questions like bullets.

“No.” My voice broke. “I want to go home. I want to go home to my son.”

“That’s why I’m here,” Damon said finally, his voice calm but firm.

I ignored him. The last time I checked, our relationship ended in flames. Why would I even talk to him? Why would he want to help me now?

“What does he mean, Mom?” I asked instead.

“He saw your case on TV,” she said quietly. “And he thinks…”

“I didn’t do it,” I cut in, my words sharp like knives.

“I never said you did,” Damon replied, his gaze steady. “That’s why we’ve decided to request a retrial. My firm will be taking the case.”

My eyes flicked to him, finally meeting his and for the first time, I felt something other than despair, it was pity , i hated that i was in a place for him to pity me but i was pitiful at this point .

Damon Silverstein. The attorney from one of the most powerful law firms in the country. His family had influence, the kind that could move mountains in court, His firm taking on my case might just be what i need to prove i am innocent .

“I can’t be your legal representative,” he continued. “Conflict of interest. But I’ll oversee the case and assign the best lawyer we have. Aurora…his voice softened “I believe you didn’t kill your husband. And I’m going to help you get out of here.”

My chest heaved. My lips trembled. And then I broke into tears again .

“ I really want to leave this place , i don’t like it here “

I cried. I sobbed like a storm had ripped through me. Because for the first time in months…someone other than my mother believed me.

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” Damon said, leaning forward, his tone unyielding. “You will be out of here. Trust me….Also, your husband might be alive “

“ Are you insane ? Bryan being alive ? That’s impossible “