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“Compassion?” she said, her tone high and full of disbelief. “Don't you talk to me about compassion.”

Hanging my head, I ran my hand across my jaw as I peered down at her. “I'm not doing this right now, I just got here. I didn't come here to cause any trouble, I just wanted to see my family is all.”

“Family?You ruined our family.”

“Can't you let it go? I did my time, I paid my dues, I don't need you reminding me of that shit anymore. Why do you think I left to begin with?”

Veering her stare, her eyes turned to slits. “Are you putting this on me right now? Are you seriously putting this on me?”

“I didn't mean it that way. But you can't blame me for everything.”

“Then who should I blame? Your brother? I should blame your brother who was sixteen at the time? I should put all the blame on a boy and not the man who was there?”

“I'm not doing this right now,” I barked, throwing my hand up and stalking away from her. Letting my voice trail off, I spoke under my breath. “Maybe coming back was a mistake. . .”

“There's no maybe, you're right, it was.”

That one hurt.

I wasn't a man who got hurt easily, especially not after spending a few years in prison. But that was a long time ago, I thought by now she would have been ready to move past it and have her son back. It was a stupid thought really, she was never going to forgive me for any of it.

She'll never believe the truth.

Heading out the door, I climbed in my car and sped off. I didn't have to stay with her, I could crash in a hotel or sleep in my car, but deep inside I wanted to go home. I missed this place, it just wasn't the same after they released me.

People looked at me as if I was a disease. They would cross the street if I was walking, just to not have to pass me. Women would clutch their purses and men would double check their wallets.

Even after all this time, I could still feel people staring at me when I was in town today. It sucked.

That was one of the reasons why I moved away. It had nothing to do with wanting to run, it had everything to do with wanting a fresh start.

I would never get that there. The town was too small, people talked too much, and no one would ever see me as anything other than a criminal.

Rolling to a stop, I could see the house across the street. Putting the car into park, I shut off the lights and sat in the dark. I could see figures moving across the lit windows, and I tried to pick out which one was probably her.

God I miss her.

It was hard to admit, but I never stopped loving Gwen. She had been in my mind every day since that horrible night. And I hadn't been able to forgive myself for hurting her.

I never should have gotten involved.

The front door opened and a shadowed figure stepped outside. Moving across the yard, under the dim light of the outside bulb, I watched the silhouette bend and twist in front of the bushes.

“Okay! Light it up!”

It's Tyler.

Bright Christmas lights popped on, covering the front bushes and around the windows. I watched as the rest of her family came out of the house, all of them unaware of the lingering eyes in darkness. Gwen came out last, causing my chest to tighten and my stomach to clench.

She was just as beautiful as the last day I saw her.

Her curly brown hair flowed like silk over her back, her smile was huge, lighting up the yard more than all the hundreds of Christmas lights put together.

I'm so sorry, Gwen. I really am.

Tapping my fingers against the wheel, all I could think about was jumping out of the car and running to her. I wanted to wrap her in my arms, feel her against my chest, smell her skin and touch her body.

But I didn't move.

She was clear the last time we talked. Gwen was done with me, it was over.

I had one phone call after I got arrested and I chose to call her. She wouldn't listen to a word I had to say, she refused to let me speak. And she was so upset that I didn't even try to calm her down. I let her be mad, I let her crush my heart in her palm and hang up on me.

I gave up on us.

Starting the car, I turned on the lights, pulling a u-turn in the street and driving away. Seeing her brought back all the emotions I thought I had left in the past.

I tried so hard not to love her anymore, but it just didn't work.