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    Chapter 29

    tab Maybe...After doing this, it will make all the sorrow and burden...disappear.
    tab "Hello? What's the state of your emergency?"
    tab Maybe things will start answering themself after this...Holes in the plot...the pot holes in the road...
    tab "I'm...here to make a confession."
    tab And then maybe...maybe Elizabeth will come back, and it could all end happily ever after.
    tab "What?"
    tab Maybe...Somehow...
    tab "I'm here to turn myself--turn myself in."
    tab Who am I kidding? This was going to be like Hell on Earth.

    tab The next few days, to describe as simply as possible, were a nightmare, and would go down as one of the most agonizing and painful experiences in my life.
    tab There was a feeling as I stood in the courtroom, awaiting my sentence. The feeling that I had finally done the right thing. And even though every couple minutes I got this pounding sensation that made want to brust out those double doors, I never tried to.
    tab A weight was lifted off my shoulders that day. I felt like I could just breathe freely without the guilty feeling stirring inside me.
    tab "Mr. Gibson," the judge boomed, startling me out of my thoughts. "Your actions come to disgrace our law enforcement group." He took a pause and went on,
    tab "However...I can not disregard the courage it took to hand yourself in. Nor can I disregard the motive of the crime, in which I'm sure you were in rage and could hardly control your emotional feelings."
    tab "But we also cannot disregard the fact that you did murder the man, and that is certainly punishable. Mr. Gibson...I hereby declare you guilty of second degree murder. You will serve eight years in prison, and pay a fine of $10,000. You will be given standard probation biweekly, under supervision of an officer. If the defense, defendent, or jury have any objections, I would hear them now." Not a word was spoken. Not by me. Not by anyone.
    tab After being tossed into my cell, I started writing this. Heck, I have nothing else to do. Writing all this on paper...It's the only thing that keeps me sane.
    tab Looking back, my life was chaotic almost beyond belief. It was almost actually a relief to be in the quieter, more peaceful enviorment.
    tab I look at the wall, and etch into it a tally mark. One day gone.
    tab 2, 921 left.
    tab Yeah, as I said, it was almost a relief. Almost.
    tab I take one final look at the picture of my old family, smiling with a sense of contentment. Maybe one day, after I'm done with my time in jail, I would go back to that way of life. A happy, prosperous family. But until then, I have only my memories to warm me..
    tab I stare at the jubilante face of Elizabeth, and whisper softly,
    tab "I'll be back. I promise."

    tab Death. A horrible flip side of life. But however terrible it is, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Though, sometimes, you just can't see it. But look closer, because if you just squint your eyes and try really hard, you might see that glint of hope at the other.