A Beautiful Disaster

**A draft from last year, I was going to submit for a challenge but didn't finish in time!**

If walls could talk I could tell all the horrors I've witnessed, I am a prison wall after all. I've seen everything from people completely breaking down, screaming for help, fights, having every bodily fluid thrown at me and the other walls, to the worst which is death in many forms. It's rare for me to see any sort of happiness, which is why when I do I tend to hold on to every detail, and those are the stories I would love to share with anyone that would listen.

My name is Scarlett by the way. Or that was the name that an inmate Michael gave me during his time here. He even engraved the name on me, I guess humans call that a tattoo. Scarlett was actually the love of Michaels life, and the person that kept him out of the darkness of this horrible place. I decided to keep up the name after he left hoping she would somehow bring me light as well.

I've lived many decades at this prison, some better than others. It's now the year 2025, and prisons are more crowded than I have ever seen them. Violence being at an all time high due mostly to overcrowding. It's defiantly one of the darkest decades to date. As I began reminiscing on Michael and Scarletts love story I heard the cell doors open, to my surprise in walked Michael.

"It's really disappointing to see to see you back here Michael." Officer Jones said.

"Yeah well the world ain't set up for people like me. You guys set us up to fail, knowing we'll be back eventually." Micheal explained.

He walked over to what the prison considered a bed, a slab of metal with a pad, and sat down.

"What happened to Scarlett? Of all the times you've been here I've never seen you not only happy, but staying out of trouble and helping people. She was good for you."

The scowl on Michaels face quickly turned soft at the mention of her name, but you could see the sadness behind his eyes.

"Yeah well like everything else in my life I messed it up." Michael explained as he laid back on the bed.

"That's too bad, I know you two would have went the distance."

Officer Jones turned around and walked out of the cell, closing and locking the cell door behind him.

Michael was laying looking up at the ceiling for what seemed like an enternity, when he finally rolled on his side facing the wall. Darkness had fallen now, and the cell was He began squinting at the wall, as if to read something. He took his thumb and began rubbing the writing on the wall.

"Scarlett?" Micheal asked.

Michael looking at the name, shocked he had been put back into the same cell he was in 3 years ago.

"Hi Michael." I said.

He began looking around the cell trying to figure out where the voice was coming from.

"Hello?" he said in a shaky voice.

"It's me." I said softly.

"Theres no way... what are the chances I ended up back in this cell." he said.

"Michael what happened with you and Scarlett?" I asked.

He laid back on the bed, sighing.

"I got out and ruined things. We got in an argument the day before, and I never called her again. I ended up back with Rachel and when she found out she never forgave me. I miss her so much. But I knew I couldn't give her the love she deserved, but instead of telling her that I ruined it."

"I think you should try reaching out to her now that you're here. True love is always meant to be. People make mistakes, but there is always room for forgivness." I said.

He walked over to the small desk that had a pen and a sheet of paper. He sat down and stared blankly at the for a while, not sure of what to say.

"I don't know know what I should say to her."

"You both used to write song lyrics to each other when you didn't know what else to say. Think of a song that describes what you would say to her if you had the chance."

Micheal sat there pondering for a moment, when his eyes finally lit up.

"I heard this song the other day called "Your Sake" by a band called Issues. I remember her liking that band. They lyrics described perfectly what I would ahve said to her if I could."

Turning back to the paper he began writing, once he was done he read the letter to me.

"Dear Scarlett,

I am so sorry for everything. I really am, you know I am not good at saying my feelings so heres a song by Issues a band I know you like that explains everything I couldn't say.

"I don't love you like I think I do

It's not because I found somebody new

It's not because of anything you did

It's because of what I've failed to do

I can't live with this guilt, I won't put you through hell

No more than I've already 'cause you hurts to say I blame myself

I know you're holding on, God must've built me wrong

I hid who I was in the dark but now the lights are coming on

Wish I could be somebody else for your sake

I'm only lying to myself if I stay

I'll cherish everything we had to this day

Wish I could be somebody else for your sake"

I love you always my love."