216: 028 SAM RYANS III

028 SAM RYANS III

I gaped at the woman in disbelief. Sam Ryans is not a man but a woman. The realization hit me with force. It took me minutes to recover my scattered wits and speak again. "I thought you're a man. I saw your pictures on the internet and I was so sure you're a man until I saw you now."1

Sam shrugged his shoulders. "It's because of my cap. I always wear one before. I'm not allowed to wear one inside this prison, though."

For a fleeting moment, a shadow of sadness crossed Sam's eyes, but it disappeared as fast as it arrived, as though it hadn't existed at all, leaving me wondering if I had just imagined seeing it at all. 

"Are you trans?" The words were out of my lips before I could even stop myself. My cheeks turned crimson. Realizing my downright rudeness of prying through her sexuality, I quickly apologized. I just wished the floor would open and swallow me up. 

Sam, though, appeared not offended by my question. I expected her to burst into fury and confront me, but she didn't. Instead, she smiled. It wasn't actually a smile, but it was close to what a smile looked like. "It's okay. I like straightforward people." She assured me. 

I still felt embarrassed by my question, so I looked down at the table to avoid her eyes.

"I'm not trans." Sam told me.

I took a deep breath and summoned the courage to look at her face again. "My parents raised me as a boy, even though they knew I'm a girl. I never once wore a dress in my life."

"Why?" The words emerged from my lips out of impulse. I wasn't expecting Sam to answer me, but she did.

"Because my parents wanted a son. After I was born, my mother couldn't have another child because of some health issues. They did what they thought was right for them, but not for me. They raised me to become a boy and dressed me like one." Sam explained without a hint of emotions showing on her face.

"I'm sorry." I told her when she finished her story.

"It's not your fault." She replied.

"I just reminded you of your traumatic childhood. If I hadn't asked, you wouldn't have revived the memories in your mind."

"I told you willingly, so it's not your fault. Anyway, you are the only person I told you about because I feel I could trust you and I hope you will keep it a secret."

"I won't tell anyone." I promise her.

"So what brings you here?" Sam finally asked. Her cat eyes watched me warily now.

Clearing my throat, I replied, "I have questions to ask you."

"I've learned you had an accident, and you lost your memories—"

A gasp tore from my lips, and I looked at her with eyes wide with shock. "How did you know!?"

"You're the headlines of every newspaper for weeks now. It's hard not to find information about you in the newspaper. Headlines screamed your name in bold, capital letters and your face was all over the television too."

I haven't read a newspaper nor opened the television to watch the news. If Sam hadn't told me, I wouldn't even know. That explains why I received weird glances from everyone who sees me.

"Sorry, I think I'm the first one to inform you of that. Just forget what I said and focus on what you came here for. So what do you want to know? I'll answer you as long as I know the answer."

"It's about the embezzlement case." 

Sam looked surprised upon hearing me. She opened her mouth as though she wanted to say something, but she stopped herself in time. "Go on." She mumbled.

"Why did you plead guilty even though you didn't do it?" Sam knew instantly I was talking about the embezzlement case against her.

"You paid me to admit to the crime. Mom needed money for the operation, so I covered up for you for the sake of money."

I swallowed deep and looked away in guilt. After knowing how I took advantage of the situation made me feel so ashamed of myself. 

I willed myself to look at Sam again. She looked weary and tired. If it weren't for me, she wouldn't be suffering now. "I'll do my best to free you as soon as possible."

Sam looked at me incredulously, as though I was just joking. For the first time since I arrived, I witnessed the display of shock on her face. "H-have you lost your mind?" She gasped, shaking her head in disbelief. "If you free me, I have to pay you back the money I used in Mom's operation. I don't have that large amount with me. I could work for a lifetime. Still, my salary wouldn't be enough to pay you." 

"I'm not asking you to give the money back. I just want you to be free. You didn't do it, so you shouldn't be here. I'll do everything to get you out." I told her with my voice filled with determination.

"Er — Are we talking about legally taking me out of here or are you thinking of other things?" Sam looked hesitant as she asked.

"Legally, of course." I assured her.

If I have to kneel in front of Lucas just so he would withdraw the charges, I will do it if it's my last resort. I thought to myself, wondering how he would react if I did.

"It's impossible to free me." Sam said.

I snapped out of my thoughts and blurted out, 'why?' louder than I intended.

"You'll have to pay the company the stolen money plus interests. We're talking here about millions of dollars. You're rich, but you don't have that amount of money." 

My heart sank at the realization, but I haven't given up yet. "Trust me, I'll do everything to get you out of here." I promised her. Samantha looked hopeful, but she wasn't letting it show.

"I have to trust you, then." She whispered. 

I stayed for a little while and asked her the details about the case and when an officer entered the room, announcing the visitation hour was over, I bid Sam goodbye and left the building. As I was driving my car on the way home, one thing bothered my mind.

I really have to kneel and beg Lucas to help me.

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