Snow on the Other Side

Everything went quiet for a moment, then Nancy Wheeler was the first to come back to her senses. She walked over to me, her steps light and graceful.

I stood there with my short, plain haircut and old, out-of-style clothes, sticking out like a sore thumb on that happy, snowy night. She paused, just for a second, before she gently hugged me.

"Why didn't you wait for me to come get you?"

Her voice was soft and soothing, and for a second, I felt lost in it. However, I could not forget what had just happened, not when it was right in front of my eyes.

"It's okay, I knew the way."

That was a lie. I had waited for her in the snow outside the prison for so long that the guard felt sorry for me and called a car.

Looking past Nancy, I saw the man behind her.

Hank Lawson was sprawled on the couch in his fancy dark grey suit, looking pretty pleased with himself.

When he caught my eye, he quickly hid his annoyance and gave me a polite smile.

"Samuel, what a coincidence that you got out just in time for New Year's. Is it a double celebration?"

He got up, put his arm around Nancy's waist, and looked at me like he was challenging me.

I tried to smile, and Nancy, holding onto Hank with one hand and me with the other, led us to sit in the middle of the crowd.

Hank's buddy caught his eye, got the message, and started to tease me.

"Samuel, is that you? You've changed so much in three years. When you were standing at the door, I thought you were a homeless guy."

Their laughter was loud and harsh. Hank coughed and lightly slapped his friend's back.

"What are you saying, man?”

"We're all friends here. It's just a joke, Samuel. Don't mind it."

Their laughter was louder than the music playing in the background. I felt a storm of feelings inside me and gripped my fingers so tightly they turned white.

When I did not say anything, Nancy gave me a little push, showing her impatience.

"Come on, we're all friends here, it's just a joke. Don't be a downer."

Nancy's words felt like claws tearing at my heart, leaving a deep, throbbing pain.

Everyone else might have thought it was okay to joke, but not Nancy. She was supposed to get it, to always have my back.

However, she was treating my pain like it was just another punchline.

I was afraid I could not hold back my feelings, so I quickly changed the subject.

"Where's my mom?"

Nancy looked guilty for a second, but then she hid it. "She likes it quiet, she's not here. I'll take you to see her some other time."

I nodded. She saw I was shivering and went to get me a coat.

I did not want to be left alone with Hank and the rest, so I made up an excuse to head to the bathroom.

As I was about to splash water on my face, a voice from behind me said, "147."

Without thinking, I spun around and snapped to attention. "Here!"

Hank burst out laughing, a nasty, grating sound.

Water dripped down my face as I glared at him.

"Think that's funny?"