Susan paced nervously in her cell, her fingers twisting the hem of her worn-out sweater. She had spent three long years behind these gray, suffocating walls. But today was different—today, she was going home.
Her cellmate, Elena, slumped on the top bunk, casually flipping through a worn paperback. "You look like you're about to burst from excitement," Elena teased, smirking.
Susan couldn't help but smile. "Can you blame me? I'm finally getting out. No more staring at these walls, no more bad food, no more cold nights…" Her voice softened. "I can finally be with Jason."
"Jason, Jason, Jason," Elena said, shaking her head. "I hope this guy is worth it because you've talked about him like he's Prince Charming reincarnated."
"He is," Susan replied, her cheeks flushing. "He's been waiting for me all this time. He even visited me once a year, even though he was busy working for our future. He always said we'd build a life together, and now, we can finally be together forever."
Elena gave her a doubtful look but didn't argue. Instead, she leaned forward, resting her chin in her palm. "Just promise me one thing, Suzy."
"What's that, Elle?", Susan looked back to Elena confused.
"Wait for me to get out so I can be your bridesmaid—or at least crash the wedding," Elena joked, her grin playful.
Susan laughed. "Fine, deal. But don't take too long, okay?"
The moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. A guard appeared at the cell door, keys jingling in her hand. "Susan Miller, it's time. You're free to go."
Susan's heart leaped. "Already?!" She turned to Elena, a mixture of joy and nerves bubbling up. "I guess this is it."
Elena swung her legs off the bunk and pulled Susan into a quick hug. "Go get your prince, Susan. But don't forget—life outside isn't always a fairy tale. Don't be so good to take other's blame, even if you love him."
Susan nodded, as she laughed through her tears. "Thank you, Elena. For everything. You take care of yourself, alright?"
"I will. Now go, before they change their minds," Elena joked, giving her a playful shove.
The cold air hit Susan's face the moment she stepped outside the prison gates. She hugged her thin coat tighter, but the chill couldn't lessen her excitement. She waited for this day for so long, to hug him again.
Her eyes scanned the snowy street, expecting to see Jason's familiar face or his car parked nearby.
But the road was empty.
"He's just late," she told herself, shivering as the snow began to fall heavier. She paced near the gate, her breath forming small puffs in the freezing air as she whispered "Maybe he was stuck in traffic? Or, maybe he'd planned a surprise? Yes, that had to be it. He must want to surprise me." She couldn't help but smile at the thought. 'Jason would never forget me. Not after everything we've been through.'
She waited. Minutes passed, then hours. The chill of the night crept into her bones, but still, there was no sign of him. The snow began to pile up around her feet and coated her hair, but she stayed rooted in place, clutching onto hope. "Maybe he's caught up at work," she whispered to herself, shivering. "Yeah... he's just busy. I'll surprise him instead."
With no money for a cab or even a bus, Susan started walking. Her body trembled from the cold, but she kept going, clutching the thin coat tightly around her. The city streets were eerily quiet, the only sound of her footsteps crunching against the snow. She smiled as she thought, 'Jason will be so happy to see me.'
Suddenly, a loud crash shattered the stillness of the night. Her head snapped toward the sound, and she saw a large truck speeding away from the scene of an accident. A luxury car got smashed on the side of the road, steam rising from its shattered hood.
Susan hesitated. She didn't have a phone, and the thought of getting involved scared her. But when she saw a man slumped over in the driver's seat, blood dripping from his forehead, she couldn't turn away.
"Hey! Are you okay?" she called, running up to the car. The man didn't respond, his breathing shallow.
She yanked on the door, but it wouldn't budge. "Come on," she muttered, pulling harder. Finally, the door gave way with a screech.
The man's face was pale, and blood was pooling on his expensive suit. Susan's hands trembled as she leaned in to check his pulse. "Stay with me," she whispered.
Remembering the first-aid lessons she'd taken years ago, she tore a strip from her coat sleeve and pressed it against the man's bleeding forehead.
Desperate to call for help, She spotted his phone lying on the passenger seat. "Sorry about this," she said, pressing his thumb to the screen to unlock it. She quickly dialed emergency services. "Hello? There's been an accident. A man is trapped in his car, and he's bleeding badly. Please send help!"
The operator assured her an ambulance was on its way. Susan stayed with the man, doing what little she could to stabilize him until the paramedics arrived.
When the ambulance pulled up, she stepped aside, watching as they carefully loaded the injured man onto a stretcher.
"Miss, do you need help too?" one of the paramedics asked, noticing her pale face and shaking hands.
Susan shook her head. "No, I'm fine. Just...take care of him."
After giving her statement to the police, she walked away as dawn broke over the city. She felt too exhausted to move even an inch, but the thought of seeing Jason kept her going.
When she finally arrived, she hesitated outside the door. "He'll be so surprised, right?" she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips.
She fished the spare key from its hiding spot and walked to the door quietly, eager to surprise him.
"Finally," she whispered, inserting the key into the lock. She pushed the door open, her smile widening.
But the scene that greeted her made her freeze like a statue.