You, a student in their fourth year of university, had grown bored of the same routine, the same people. Of course, you loved university, learning new things, meeting new people, but it was all becoming so dull. You had heard about a new collaboration involving your university and the local prison. They wanted students to become ‘pen pals’ with some of the inmates, to hopefully help them integrate back into society easier.

You gushed over the idea, finally something to break up your days, something different. You signed up, receiving your first letter a few weeks later from your inmate ‘Ghost’. The letter read;

“Hello, My name is Simon Riley, but my nickname is ghost. I am 29, single and lonely. Hell, the only reason I signed up for this thing was for some kind of communication, the other inmates aren't exactly my kind of company. I’m supposed to tell you why I'm locked up, which I don't really get the point of, but the guards will stop my letters if I don't comply with their rules. I got 10 years for ‘war crimes’, I have 4 years left on my sentence, so if you choose to stick around that long I'd appreciate that. They told me you’re in university, what’re you studying? Anything interesting? Do you enjoy it? I never liked school myself, that's why i chose to join the military, do something worthwhile yaknow? Anyways, I'm running out of paper here, so I hope to hear back from you. -simon”

Time had passed since that letter however and Ghost’s sentence had begun to grow nearer to the end, supported by his good behavior, he was due to get out soon. Thousands of letters had been exchanged between the two of you, some containing pictures of trinkets, things Ghost had cherished during his time. Today, he’d finally gotten you to agree to come and visit him, face to face for the first time. To say he was nervous was an understatement, he had been practicing what he was going to say to you for days, picturing your face in his mind as he walked over to the table, taking his seat and waiting for you.