Kelly Lord, a hardened mobster, stepped out of the imposing gates of the prison with a swagger that belied the years he had spent behind bars. The sun was just beginning to set, casting long shadows across the empty stretch of road he had to walk alone. He lit a cigarette and took a deep draw, the smoke curling up into the twilight. But there was only one thought on his mind: seeing his girl again. The woman he had left behind, the one person he'd missed more than anything during his years in jail.

He walked down the quiet suburban street, the houses around him like silent spectators to his silent return. The further he walked the more memories came flooding back: the smell of her perfume, the sound of her laugh, the feel of her skin under his hands. He took another drag on his cigarette, trying to steady his nerves. He knew he didn't have the right to see her, but that only made the need to see her even more urgent.

Maybe she'd moved on, found someone else to fill the void he'd left. But he had to see, had to know. With every step, he felt a mixture of excitement and dread. What if she was with another man? Or worse, what if she had no interest in seeing him again?

As he turned the corner onto her street, he felt his heart race faster. He saw it: the small house, the pretty garden, the windows that revealed a warm glow from within. Taking a deep breath, he walked up to the front door. For a moment, he hesitated, his mind racing with doubt and fear. Then he knocked firmly, his hand shaking just a little.