CHAPTER TWO – MY FRIEND FOR LIFE

The next morning came too quickly. Nia went through the release procedures in a daze, barely registering the guard's instructions or the feel of her old clothes against her skin. It wasn't until she stood before the massive iron gates that the reality of the situation hit her. With a loud creak, the gates swung open. Nia stepped forward, squinting against the bright sunlight. She took a deep breath, savoring the first taste of unfiltered air in three years. "Nia! Nia, over here!" Nia turned towards the voice, her eyes widening as she saw a familiar figure waving frantically. Maria Montoya, her best friend since childhood, was standing next to an old Toyota, a wide smile on her face. Nia walked towards her, her steps hesitant at first, then quickening. As she reached Maria, the two women embraced tightly, tears streaming down both their faces. "I can't believe you're here," Nia whispered, her voice choked with emotion. Maria pulled back, wiping her eyes. "Where else would I be, silly? I told you I'd be here when you got out, didn't I?" Nia nodded, overcome. Throughout the trial, the conviction, the long years of imprisonment, Maria had been her rock. When everyone else had abandoned her, Maria had stood by her side. "Come on," Maria said, gesturing towards the car. "Let's get out of here." As they drove away from the prison, Nia couldn't stop staring out the window. Everything seemed so vibrant, so alive compared to the drab greys of prison life. "So," Maria said, breaking the silence, "how does it feel to be out?" Nia turned to her friend, struggling to find the words. "It's... overwhelming. I'm happy, of course, but also..." "Scared?" Maria supplied gently. Nia nodded. "Yeah. Everything's changed, Maria. I've changed. I don't know if I fit out here anymore." Maria reached over and squeezed Nia's hand. "Hey, it's okay to be scared. But you're not alone, okay? I'm here for you, no matter what." As they drove through the busy streets of Queens, heading towards Maria's apartment, Nia felt a mix of nostalgia and alienation. The neighborhood looked both familiar and strange, like a place she'd once visited in a dream. "I was thinking," Maria said as they neared her building, "why don't you stay with me for a while? Just until you get back on your feet." Nia hesitated. "I don't want to be a burden, Maria. You've already done so much-" "Stop right there," Maria interrupted. "You're not a burden, Nia. You're my best friend. And friends help each other out, right?" Nia smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest she hadn't experienced in years. "Right. Thank you, Maria. Really." As they carried Nia's few possessions up to Maria's small apartment, Nia couldn't help but think about how different this was from the life she'd once known. Before the accident, she'd been on track to become a lawyer, with a bright future ahead of her. Now... "I know it's not much," Maria said as they entered the apartment, "but it's home." Nia looked around the modest living room, taking in the worn but comfortable-looking couch, the small TV, and the pictures on the walls. Many of them were of her and Maria in happier times. "It's perfect," Nia said sincerely. As they settled in, Maria brought out a stack of papers from a drawer. "I've been collecting some job listings for you," she said, her voice bright with forced cheer. "I know it might be tough, but I figured it's a place to start, right?" Nia nodded, leafing through the papers. Dishwasher, janitor, night security guard – not exactly her dream jobs, but she was in no position to be picky. "This is great, Maria. Thank you." Maria beamed. "No problem! And hey, I was thinking maybe tomorrow we could go shopping, get you some new clothes. Oh, and we should definitely have a girls' night out soon. There's this new bar that opened up down the street that I think you'd love-" "Maria," Nia interrupted gently, "I appreciate all of this, I really do. But... I can't just jump back into normal life like nothing happened. I need time to adjust." Maria's face fell slightly. "Oh. Of course, I'm sorry. I just got excited, I guess. It's been so long since we could just hang out, you know?" Nia nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. "I know. And we will, I promise. I just need to take things slow for now." As the evening wore on, they ordered takeout and caught up on everything Nia had missed. Maria filled her in on mutual friends, neighborhood gossip, and world events. Nia listened, trying to connect with this world that had moved on without her. Finally, as night fell, Maria showed Nia to the spare room. "I hope this is okay," she said, gesturing to the small space with a single bed and a dresser. "It's more than okay," Nia assured her. "Thank you again, Maria. For everything." After Maria left, Nia sat on the edge of the bed, looking around the unfamiliar room. It was larger than her prison cell, but somehow felt just as confining. She lay down, staring at the ceiling, just as she had done countless nights in prison. But this time, instead of concrete and steel bars, she was surrounded by the trappings of normal life. A life she wasn't sure she knew how to live anymore. As she drifted off to sleep, Nia wondered if there was truly a place for her in this world. Or if she would forever be haunted by the past, always looking over her shoulder, waiting for it to catch up with her. In the quiet of the night, with the sounds of the city filtering through the thin walls, Nia Moreno closed her eyes and hoped, for the first time in three years, that tomorrow might bring something better.