Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Life on the Outside
Cole took a deep breath as he stepped out of the courthouse, the fresh air hitting him like a wave of freedom. The city buzzed around him, cars honking in the distance, people walking by, completely unaware of the weight that had just been lifted from his shoulders. It was strange to be back in the world after so long, to see life moving on as if nothing had changed, even though everything had changed for him.
Beside him, Lina and Ty walked quietly, giving him space. It had been a long, hard road, but now that he was finally free, Cole didn't know how to feel. Relief? Hope? Fear? It all mixed together, swirling in his chest as he tried to make sense of it.
"Feels weird, huh?" Ty asked, breaking the silence.
Cole glanced at him, the corners of his mouth twitching into a faint smile. "Yeah. Real weird."
"You're a free man now," Lina said softly, her voice filled with pride. "You can do whatever you want."
Cole stopped walking, his eyes scanning the city streets in front of him. The last time he had walked these streets, he had been a different person. Angry. Lost. Desperate. Now, as he stood there, the weight of his freedom pressing down on him, he wasn't sure what came next.
"What do you want to do?" Lina asked, her eyes searching his face.
Cole let out a long breath. "I don't know yet."
And that was the truth. He had been fighting for his freedom for so long that he hadn't stopped to think about what he would do once he had it. The Crucible still lingered in the back of his mind—a dream that seemed so far away now—but for the first time in years, Cole realized that he didn't have to make any decisions right away. He could take his time, figure things out.
"I'll figure it out," Cole said, more to himself than to anyone else.
Ty clapped him on the back. "You've got all the time in the world, man. No rush."
Lina smiled softly, her eyes filled with understanding. "You've earned this, Cole. Don't feel like you have to do anything right away."
Cole nodded, though a part of him felt restless. The streets had taught him to always be moving, always be fighting, but now, there was no immediate battle to fight. No guards, no underground fights, no detention center.
Just life. Waiting for him to figure out what came next.
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