The Unexpected Gift

He had not been expecting a letter. Even though he had asked her to write him. Well, not really asked. But when he gave her his address during the last call he snuck and made to her, she didn't sound enthused to be receiving the information. His hope was lost in her silence, so he asked her again, "You got something to write with?" Another short pause.

"Yes, I have it. I been had it. I was waiting for you to start giving me the info." Her tone was rigid.

"Well, how would I know, if you didn't tell me..." he decided not to make a debate over it. He was lonely in the new prison they shipped him to in the wee hours of the morning, two years ago today. He wanted some form of communication with the outside world. And especially communication from her. She was considered the one that got away to him. The one love he truly wanted to be with. But she wouldn't have him because of his relationship with his children's Mother. Although he loved his children's Mother, it wasn't the same type of love he had for Redd. Redd was his soul mate; the one person who knew him for what he really was. The front he put up as the big bad neighborhood drug dealer didn't cut it with her. Redd was a strong independent woman to him. She didn't take any shorts from a guy, nor did she sacrifice her happiness for the sake of anyone else's. On top of all that, she was a beauty that stood above any supermodel in his dreams, or on his wall.

He looked at the wall filled with posters of Tyra Banks, Kimora Lee Simmons before he looked back down at the envelope. Why was he afraid to open it? The envelope trembled slightly as he flipped it over to see the smiley faces Redd always put on her notes, and the back of envelopes for birthday, holiday cards. He smiled and flipped it back to the front to reminisce on her graceful strokes of letters. She always had beautiful handwriting. The penmanship of a person with sophistication. He didn't know if that was even possible, but her handwriting displayed beauty to him.

He didn't want to open the envelope, for fear of destroying the beauty and neatness of it. But the beauty would soon be destroyed by the sweat from his hands. Trembling fingers, gently pulled at the flap on the back of the envelope. As soon as the flap was opened, he was greeted by the sweet scent of Redd's favorite perfume. The memories flooded him, and a tear slid down his cheek. Before he could wipe it, another fell, and then another trickled down from his other eye. It was over, and soon he was trembling with emotions. Get it together, man. You haven't even read what she wrote. As he began to pull out the letter completely, he could see that the paper didn't have any words on it, but something with dark colors. He pull the letter completely from the envelope, slowly unfolding it, scared of what he may find in the unfolded paper.

By the second unfolding of the paper, he realized that it was indeed a letter from Redd. But his curiosity didn't allow him to start reading the letter. But instead, he pulled the second sheet of paper out to see what it was. His eyes widened at the same time his mouth did. His tears fell once more as he pulled the sheet of paper that held the dark colors on it, up to his chest. He hugged it, and kissed the paper gently. The image on the paper was the one thing he needed to get, to help him survive the lonely days.

He placed the photo of Redd on his wall, directly in front of his face. He had not been expecting a letter. But what he got was a letter for a lifetime!