His life had been one of hard lessons and beautiful transitions inside he was a butterfly, but to the world he was a worm, a caterpillar to the those who had eyes. He had spent the night before his release dreaming of becoming the next great someone who had overcome something only to awaken and realize who he is. A convict, not by title but by mind state. The men who had mentored him were the old lifers and career felons not the gang bangers that he once ran with. The older cons saw something in the youth a silent determination and a steel resolve. He sat with the Aristotle’s Sophocles of his world and with that wisdom he could never again feign ignorance or weakness his eyes were wide open. He knew that his living conditions would not be truly conducive for his success, his a sister a college sophomore while he was a career felon, his mother the source of all his pain, would never let his time.

He knew what to expect but the question was do they, gone was the wild man that once inhabited this body in his stead was a man. A man of focus will and determination, the years had honed this one. He saw beyond the vanity of life and lived for purpose. Who could see beneath the 23 felony convictions and 1000 yard stare, or who could dare accept his genuine nature, would knowing him change the perceptions of convicts, would his actions open doors or close them. He dressed quickly taking off his state issued and putting on a sweatsuit, looking into a real mirror he could see the man that he had become the last time he had actually saw himself was years ago, he had not had access to a mirror in years. He stands there looking into the mirror wondering who was this man staring back the scars the chipped tooth the cold eyes. The mirror alone shattered his world for years he believed himself to be the same 19 yr old that he was when he entered. The bathroom had the same familiar brick that lined the corridors behind the wall.  He opened the door, opened the door not had it opened, and entered the foyer where his family stood all smiles and tears. He comforts them the best way he can, but he could not help but notice the family waiting for a visit. One leaves and one enters.