Free Lyfe Changing by Desirae Williams

nodded. “Good…more
satisfied customers equal more business.” Marisol eyed me closely.
I didn’t notice her gaze at first with my mind being so clouded. I
caught her staring and looked up.
    “What?”
    “You’re still thinking about
him?”
    She asked wondering if I was
going to admit to her what I was thinking. I avoided eye contact
not wanting her to get the satisfaction of being right. “Thinking
about whom?” Marisol ignored my denial and laughed. “The mail man,
I thought you had a thing for him.” I shook my head smiling. “Look,
I just wanted to know if he was ok…had he recovered from his
injuries.” I shamelessly admitted. I didn’t know why I cared so
much but I did and I wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about
Derrick until I knew he was ok. “Trust me…recovery is the least of
his problems.” Marisol said shaking her head reading the paper. I
looked at her puzzled. “What are you talking about?” She looked at
me as if she said something she shouldn’t have and wished she could
take it back. “Yeah…um…he’s being charged.” I jumped up from my
seat in shock. “What!” I yelled causing Marisol to jump
back.
    “What do you mean he is
being charged, for what?” She looked at me wide eyed and
speechless. “The cops found a gun on him ….it turns out he is known
for being involved in criminal activity and now they’re going to
charge him. It’s all over the paper” I took the paper from her hand
and read the headline. Hospital victim
turned criminal . I was in utter
shock, How could they do this? I thought. He almost
died, he is not even out of the hospital and they’re going to send
him to jail. I paced the floors again; I
didn’t know why I was in such an uproar, it’s not like I knew the
guy that well but I had so much compassion for him, I didn’t want
him to go to jail, not at a time like this. Marisol watched as I
roamed around the room like a mad woman. “Um...Is there anything in
particular you would like me to do?” I thought about it for a
moment then looked at her. “Yes…get a number for me from Martin and
Lees, call them up and I’ll take it from my desk. “ I instructed
her. “On my way…” Marisol got up from her chair and left the room
while I sat at my desk in a daze. I didn’t know what the hell I was
about to do or why I was doing it….but it needed to be
done.

    Derrick
    “All rise…court is now in
session, Judge Latham presiding.” The Bailiff introduced the judge
as he came into court. I stood as the defendant while the judge
took his seat and prepared for my case. He was an old white man who
looked like he came from a long line of plantation owners…just my
luck. Don’t know how but those bastards finally did it, they got me
in a courtroom, charged and filed. After Detective Trent lowered
the boom on me at the hospital I was placed under arrest and
brought down to the precinct. After spending a night in jail I
started to think the hospital wasn’t that bad. Damn , I thought. Not only was out of all the money I stole, I was going down
for a gun charge, how perfect was that? I
lowered my head in defeat as the judge began. “We are here today to
discuss the case of Derrick Lyfe who is being charged with one
count of gun possession. Counselor?” He looked over to the
toothpick in a tailored suit across from me to speak.
    The district attorney was a
regular tall and skinny pale man with a bad comb over ready to take
down yet another presumed thug. “Well your honor…the defendant
Derrick Lyfe was found with a .22 caliber in his possession after
being taken to the hospital after an accident.” I sighed and looked
at the D.A. with a scowl, I didn’t have time for this torturous
process… just lock me up shit, anything was better than this. “Mr.
Lyfe, did you not request for an attorney?” The judge addressed me,
not seeing some rich white attorney by my side. I didn’t request an
attorney, what was the point I figured. Unless Jesus