When they pulled into the bus depot it was dark. Nearly everyone got off. Rogers

was last because he liked it that way.

 

His feet hit the pavement and he looked around. Some of the passengers were

greeted by friends or family. Others pulled their luggage from the storage

compartment at the rear of the bus. Rogers simply stood there and looked around

as he had done outside the prison. He had no friends or family to greet him, and

no luggage to retrieve.

 

But he was waiting for something to happen.

 

The young man who had glared at him went to collect his and the woman’s bags.

While he did so she came over to Rogers. “You look like you could use some fun.”

He didn’t answer.

 

She glanced in the direction of her boyfriend. “We go our separate ways in a

little bit. After that, why don’t we go have a good time, just you and me? I

know a place.” When the boyfriend came around the side of the bus carrying a

long duffel and a smaller suitcase, she gripped his arm and they walked off. But

she looked back at Rogers and winked.

 

His gaze tracked the young couple as they headed down the street, turned left,

and disappeared from sight.