I walked next to Max as we made our way into Ashley’s room. Immediately after entering, the little girl ran eagerly to her mother’s bed side. I lifted Max up so that she could hug her mother. The now happy little one crawled into the bed next to her mother and kept her arms around her. I sat in a corner in the room watching as Ashley began to cry. “I’m sorry” I heard Ashley whisper to Max through tears and kisses. “I’m so sorry.”

After half an hour of tears and apologies, Max was fast asleep on the bed. I pulled the chair to Ashley’s bedside and sat next to her. The oldest brunette still had tears in her eyes. “How long do I have till they take me away in hand cuffs?” She asked in a hushed tone, as to not wake her daughter.

I stayed as quiet as I could be. “Well hopefully forever, so long as you don’t continue to rob people or do anything else illegal.” She looked at me shocked. “I told them not to press charges.”

“Why did you do that?” She asked, shocked at my random act of kindness.

“I did it because everyone deserves a second chance, Ashley. And this, this is your second chance.”

She looked at me, her eyes wide and still red from tears. “Thank you” she said barely above a whisper.

“So what do you have planned for when you get better?” I asked.

I was hoping to hear that this had changed her entire life and that she would immediately get a job and stop living a life of crime. Although that wasn’t the answer I got, I was happy with the progress that had been made. “Well I know that I’m not going to do anything illegal. Unfortunately, now that I have cracked ribs and a fractured shoulder I won’t be able to get a job for a month at least. In that month I can lose my apartment. Max has school everyday and it isn’t like I’d be able to walk her anymore. Things just aren’t looking up for me.”

I stayed silent for a bit and considered everything she had said. She was right. Working would be near impossible with her injuries. Without a job she wouldn’t be able to afford a place to live. Not to mention, with a job, Max would need daycare. Ashley wouldn’t be able to afford that either.