Plagiarized (27 page)

Three Years Later
…

I sat on my bed, which was neatly made, and waited.

All of my belongings that I had collected over the last three years were packed neatly in a box next to me. One small box contained all that I had held dear for three fucking years. How pathetic was that? Can you even imagine packing up everything you accumulated over a three-year span? It would probably fit in more than one pathetic box.

I had served my agreed upon term of three years and it was finally my independence day. The day that I would be released and gain back my freedom. To say I was excited would be a severe understatement. I was fucking ecstatic! In a few short minutes or hours—whenever they decided to come and get me—I would be a free woman.

I felt like more time had gone by than just three years. Don’t get me wrong, the time had passed by incredibly slow most of the time. But when I thought of everything I had learned during that time, three years seemed exceedingly short. Does that make sense? I felt like I had gained a lifetime of knowledge in a short amount of time.

The lessons that I had learned would be invaluable to my future. I felt like a completely different woman. When I thought of the shallow and self-centered person that I used to be, I found that I was hardly recognizable now.

The lying alone had cost me everything. Everything I thought I had held dear, but I didn’t even realize what I truly held dear until I had begun to serve my sentence. I had begun the long journey of identification. The prison had offered therapy sessions that I had scoffed at when first asked to attend. But once the first session passed, I realized I looked forward to therapy; I needed it, I learned from it, and I had changed.

I changed. I was no longer Sage Roby, at least the Sage who had entered this godforsaken place. S. Roby was long gone and would never come back. Sage was still here, just reinvented and better for it.

I couldn’t wait to get out. Tom—of all people—was picking me up. True to his word, he had packed up all of my belongings and sold our home. We had been divorced for over two years and had no ties of love left. He was simply a friend and I was grateful for his friendship.

Upon entrance to this place, it seemed like everyone dropped me like a hot potato. Even Craig. I had been so excited to see him, week after week. But as week after week passed, he didn’t come to visit me. I couldn’t understand it, after his declaration and promises. It was all down the drain, they had meant nothing. I had known he was too young, known it in my gut, but had fallen for his false promises.

Part of me wanted to kick myself and the other part of me wanted to laugh at my foolishness.

I was ready for the next chapter of my life to begin.

Who knew what the future would hold?

Finish the drama in

“Revised” by Marlo Williams & Leddy Harper…

to be released early 2015

Leddy Harper’s Acknowledgements…

First and foremost I want to thank my writing lobster, Marlo Williams. This has been an amazing journey and I had so much fun! All collaborative work should be like this! You are an amazing writer and I look forward to working with you again! I love you from the bottom of my heart.

I also want to thank Jettie Woodruff for her continued support. I <6 you!

My family, for their love and patience.

To my readers, thank you SO much for giving me a chance!!!

And to everyone else… I’m trying to make this short and sweet and don’t want to leave anyone out. So this is to you. Thank you!

Marlo Williams’ Acknowledgements…

Aww Leddy… how do I even begin? You are the most selfless and brilliant person I have ever met. This collaboration didn’t even feel like work, is it wrong for me to admit it wasn’t even hard? You made it so easy. I love your writing and feel honored that I had the chance to write a book with you. And if that wasn’t enough I found the ying to my yang, my writing lobs. I feel incredibly lucky and blessed.

To Jettie Woodruff… you are my inspiration. When I first read your books a couple years back, I felt like I was home. Then I read your biography and couldn’t believe that you began by writing in spiral notebooks. You gave me the courage I needed to publish my first book and live out my dream as a self-published author. I can’t even begin to explain how much your creativeness encourages me.

Which brings me to YOU… all the self-published authors and wonderful, supportive readers out there, you are truly amazing. The author and reading community is surprising close knit and I have been lucky enough to fall into one that helps and encourages each other. Thank you to every single one of you. Your friendship and belief in me means so much!