Free Fallen Angel From Revenge to Redemption by Deborah R. Brandon

wants to make a difference in the community to someone who is just on the beat waiting to retire.
    Understandably Aiden’s mother and father are grieving right now and this senseless lawsuit was their way of honoring their son I guess. Where were they when he was beating and abusing his family? Why didn’t they get him some help earlier? That’s what I wanted to know. People are a trip.
    I arrived at the log cabin after driving for two hours. Darren was sitting on the outside in the porch swing. He was staring off in space. He was sweaty and exhausted. I grabbed the beer from the cooler and started to walk up the steps.
                  “I come bearing gifts,” I said as I handed him an ice cold beer.
                  “Thanks man, you didn’t have to drive all the way out here,” he said as he opened the can and took a long drink from the can.
    “Yeah, I did. Life has kicked you in the stomach and knocked the wind out of you. It is my job to help you catch your breath,” I responded sincerely.
    “Appreciate it,” he said.
    “You are intending to fight this aren’t you?” I asked as I opened a can of beer for myself.
                  “I have no choice but just not today. Today we drink. Tomorrow we fight,” he said looking defeated.
                  I took a seat beside my friend and raised my glass to his, to salute him before taking a drink.

              ~Darren~
    Friendship needs no words …
    Sam and I drank a few more beers. I put some charcoal on the grill. I grilled some chicken, smoked sausage, and a few pork chops. I wasn’t planning on going home until Sunday night. I would face the music then. As the meat cooked I walked into the kitchen and opened a can of baked beans and poured the contents into a long glass pan. I put a little bit of barbeque sauce in them and then placed strips of bacon across the top of it and placed it in the oven. I also boiled a couple ears of corn and made a seafood pasta salad. 
    When that was done I checked on the bigger pieces of meat and handed the grilling over to Sam before I ran back inside to take a shower.
    Sam was a good friend. He wasn’t talking things to death. He was just letting me be. That was just what I needed. I felt bad because I haven’t spoken with Shanice seen I got the news. Right now in this moment, I was not myself and I didn’t want to show her that side of me.
    Sam and I ate the food I had prepared and put the leftovers up. We watched the movie Divergent and then called it a night. I had only been in the bed for a little while when I heard a car pull into the driveway.
    I closed my eyes tight fearing that reports had found out where I was hiding. No not hiding, just taking a break from the real world. I heard multiple voices. I climbed out of bed and pulled my shirt over my head. I walked to the door ready to go in on someone.
    When I yanked opened the door and turned on the porch light, I was shocked to find Shanice, Dominique, Vanessa, Lamar, Maribel, and my brother Mario.

 
     
               ~Shanice~
    Be strong because things will get better. It may be stormy now but it never rains forever.-Unknown
    “Do not be mad at them. I spoke with your mom and she told me were you were. I didn’t want to travel by myself and your mom made your brother come with me. While I was packing, the rest of them came over and the next thing I know Lamar was yelling road trip and we are here now. We saw everything on the news, as well as Sam told Domonique what was going on. I have been trying to call you and I am going straight to voicemail. I just had to know for myself that you were okay? If you don’t want us to stay, then we will leave,” I finished.
    Lamar said, “In the morning, I am not getting back on the road tonight. If you want us to leave then we will in the morning, so step aside and let us in.”
    Darren moved to the side and allowed everyone to enter. He took my things