2,555 Nights
by LN Alberts “She won’t even recognize me,” Robert told his reflection. He squinted at the small, square mirror behind the sink while he turned his chin to the side. His fingers roughed up his scruffy beard to expose the gray patches that seeped through the brown. Robert frowned at the evidence of his wasted time. Perhaps it was time for a fresh shave to symbolize his fresh start. The light overhead flickered as he smeared shaving cream over his cheeks and chin. One stripe at a time, he scraped away the mask he’d worn from the moment he stepped foot on Parchman Farm. He credited his grizzled appearance to the long days he spent cultivating crops in penance at Mississippi’s state penitentiary. It was a drastic change from the beautiful home he’d inherited in Vicksburg. That historic old house was the first family heirloom to fall victim to his crimes, but certainly wasn’t the last. The antique cars and every single book in his parents’ meticulously curated library followe...