Greg's Dreaded Return

I Was In Jail

''Lucy,'' Greg muttered, although, she didn't hear him.

Lucy arranged the grocery in the backseat of her car and then stood up to see that Greg was staring at her in disbelief.

''Is everything okay?'' She asked him.

''Are you seriously asking me that? Lucy. Who's car is this?'' Greg asked.

''Oh,'' Lucy said in realization and laughed. ''Of course, it's mine. Whose would it be? It's with me, right?'' She replied.

''Of course? I don't know. It could belong to a boyfriend or husband of yours for all I could care to think of,'' Greg replied.

Lucy rolled her eyes.

''I don't have a boyfriend, and I definitely do not have a husband,'' she replied, flashing her ring finger at Greg to indicate that it was bare.

''Okay. A girlfriend then? Maybe?'' Greg asked mischievously.

''What? No, Greg,'' Lucy replied and laughed heartily.

There was a brief silence between them as Greg looked at her, expecting her to give him details on how she was able to afford this sort of luxury for herself. 

''I have an uncle who put me through some connections and gave me capital to start my business. So, here we are,'' Lucy said. ''Besides, I have not seen you in ages, maybe in nearly a decade, so? Why would you be so shocked to see that I am this successful? Wasn't I promising at school?'' she asked. 

''Promising?'' Greg replied. ''You were pretty quiet, as far as I can remember,'' he added.

''Yes, because I was busy scheming my life while you and Pedro were...'' Lucy was saying, in a bid to make a joke, but she restrained herself when she figured out that the joke would be inappropriate.

Looking at Greg, he didn't look like he had his life going on well for him, so talking about how he used to be noisy at school would seem as if he had always been set up for failure. 

''Should I drop you off? Where do you live?'' Lucy asked, quickly changing the subject of discussion.

''I don't stay far from here at all. I can walk,'' Greg politely said with a smile. 

''Really? You know I'm not going to allow that. Hop in. I'll drop you off even if your house is on the next block,'' Lucy insisted. 

Greg heaved a deep sigh and accepted Lucy's offer. She seemed as if she would drag him into the car if he didn't accept, so he agreed quickly. 

''So, what have you been up to lately?'' Lucy asked as she branched into the freeway. 

Greg chuckled.

Lucy glanced at him inquisitively and quickly turned her eyes back to look at the road. 

''I umm...'' Greg was saying, but he stopped. He found it difficult to tell Lucy the truth about his life.

It would have been easier for him to tell her if she was not currently as successful as she was. He seemed like a joke to her, although Lucy didn't even think of him that way. She felt she only got lucky, and maybe he had not yet gotten the sort of opportunity she got. 

''I have been in jail, Lucy,'' Greg said abruptly and looked out of the window. 

Lucy glared at him in disbelief, so hard that she nearly ran into an oncoming vehicle.

''Watch it,'' Greg said and swerved the steering wheel for Lucy and narrowly dodged the car. 

''I should have known. Because I know I used to hear that you were doing well with your business. At least far better than you currently look. No offense,'' Lucy said with a straight face.

''None taken,'' Greg replied.

''Yes, I had it going good for me Lucy until my fate changed in the twinkle of an eye,'' he explained.

Lucy took occasional glances at him, indicating that she wanted to hear more. 

''What happened? What did you do?'' She asked.

Greg chuckled as his thoughts went to Laura again. 

He shook his head. 

''I used to have this fiance that...'' Greg was saying, but it felt too heavy for him to keep talking without being emotional, so he paused. 

Lucy didn't know what he wanted to say, nor what he had been through, so she couldn't even console him when she felt his energy shift, she just stared at him with sympathy. 

''I went out with my fiance' one evening, and she went to the bathroom for a break, only for me to hear her screaming, and as I got there, I saw a man forcing himself on her,'' Greg explained abruptly, concealing his emotions as much as he could.

''So I attacked him without thinking twice, and it turned out that he was a wealthy man with a lot of influence and connections, so he threw me in jail for three years. I got out only weeks ago,'' Greg explained to a dazed Lucy.

''Are you kidding me?'' She asked him. 

Greg shook his head.

''What sort of joke would that be? Of course, I am serious. I am not kidding you. Can't you tell by now? After my explanation, looking at me, can't you tell that I am just recovering from being malnourished for a long time?'' Greg asked.

Lucy looked at him and realized that he was correct, but she didn't say anything concerning his looks. 

''Okay, so where is this fiance' of yours now?'' She asked.

Greg became quiet.

''What? She left you?'' Lucy asked with her eyes wide in anticipation.

''That's putting it lightly,'' Greg replied with a sarcastic scoff. 

''She is married to the man that took me to jail because I was protecting her,'' Greg said with a painful smile.

''I beg your pardon?'' Lucy asked in utter shock. 

''Oh my goodness. Are you alright, Greg? All this madness, all this heartache for one person. How have you been?'' Lucy asked with a sad voice.

She felt so bad for Greg.

''Been holding on,'' Greg said with a faint smile.

''It's all over now. You don't have to worry about me. I am recovering fast,'' he added. 

''Is it really that easy?'' Lucy asked, glancing at Greg occasionally with pity in her eyes.

''Take a left. My house is the last building by your right after you turn,'' Greg said to Lucy.