Mike walked out of the prison gates. The sky was blue, and the sun was shining. The world looked the same as he remembered it, but for him, everything felt new. After ten long years inside, he was finally free.
In prison, Mike had changed. He had worked in the kitchen and read many books. He had learned how to stay calm and be patient. He told himself again and again, “When I go out, I will live a good life.”
At first, he was full of hope. He went to many places and asked for work. He wanted to cook, clean, do anything. But people always asked about his past.
“Have you ever been in trouble with the police?” they said.
Mike told the truth. Every time, they said they would call him, but they never did. After a few weeks, he had no money left. He stayed in a small room near the bus station and ate bread and soup.
He started to feel sad again. Sometimes, he thought about giving up. But he remembered the books he read — books about people who didn’t stop trying. So every morning, he got up and tried again.
One day, he walked past a bakery. The smell of bread made him stop. Inside, a woman was working. Mike asked, “Do you need help?”
She looked at him. “Maybe,” she said. “Have you worked in a bakery before?”
“I worked in a kitchen,” he said. “In prison.”
The woman looked away. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “Not today.”
Mike thanked her and walked out. His heart felt heavy, but he didn’t get angry. He knew people were afraid.
That afternoon, something happened. Mike was walking down the main street when he heard a loud crash. Two cars had hit each other. Smoke came from one of them.
People stood and watched, but no one moved. Mike ran to the car. Inside was a woman screaming. The door wouldn’t open. Mike pulled hard until it opened, then helped her get out. Crying, she said, “Thank you! You saved me!”
Soon, the police and ambulance came. A police officer asked, “What’s your name?”
“Mike Harris,” he said.
The next day, the story was in the local newspaper: “Man Helps Woman After Street Accident.”
When people found out Mike had just come out of prison, they were surprised — but also impressed. The bakery woman came to see him.
“You were brave,” she said. “Would you still like to work for me?”
Mike smiled. “Yes. Thank you.”
He started work the next day. He cleaned, baked, and learned how to make bread. The pay was not much, but it was honest work.
Every morning, he watched the sun rise over the town. He was tired but happy. Life was not easy, but it was real.
Mike was finally back to reality — and this time, he was ready for it.
📒 Key vocabulary
- prison – a place where people stay as punishment for a crime
- gates – parts of a fence or outside wall that open and close
- in trouble – in a position where someone in authority is angry with you
- bakery – a shop selling bread
- crash – a loud noise made when two things hit each other, like cars
- smoke – grey air that comes from fire or something burning
- ambulance – a special car that takes sick or hurt people to hospital
- impressed – feeling respect or surprise because someone did something good
- brave – not afraid to do something dangerous or difficult
- rise (rise, rose, risen)– go up
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