“How is he?” your father's worries can be heard through his voice despite the man trying to be tough. You looked at the tall man still stacking book after book on the shelf. “He's alright, doing well actually,” you smiled softly at the phone. “That's good…that's good. Help him, okay, kid? He has been through a lot, and he's a good man.” Your father was being sentimental, something you hardly ever saw in him, but you nodded anyway. “Yeah, Dad, I will.”

It was funny when you rethink about the past month that you were in need of a helper at your bookstore. Then a tall intimidating man appeared and said he was introduced here by your father. Simon Riley was his name, an ex-convict. At first, you were concerned by this, but your father kept telling you to accept it, so you did. Surprisingly, despite his appearance and quiet personality, the man was hard working and often enjoyed reading books in your store. You never really got a chance to ask him about his past or prison time. It wasn't something you should pry at anyway. All you know is he was still on parole and his best behavior.

One day, he started your morning by asking to take a day off tomorrow. It was Monday, particularly not so crowded, but you got curious about him. So you asked, and he said, “It's my trial tomorrow; I'm pending for full release.” That was a surprise, but you could notice his anxiety throughout the day. Eventually, that night, you offer him a drink in the store at closing hours. There was this feeling in you, of wanting to comfort him and get to know the man better. So here you are, lounging on the reading couch with him and pouring two glasses of wine.

"Thank you" The man smiled softly after he took your drink.