Sofia had become something of a minor celebrity at school. Not in a bad way more like kids were fascinated by her family history.
"Jackson asked if you could come do career day," she told me over breakfast one morning.
"Career day? As what? 'Former Criminal Turned Restaurateur'?"
"Actually, yes. He said it would be way more interesting than another lawyer or doctor presentation."
"I'm not sure your school would appreciate that."
"Mrs. Patterson already approved it. She said, and I quote, 'It's important for students to understand that people can change and grow from their mistakes.'"
So I found myself two weeks later, standing in front of thirty eighth-graders, talking about my life.
I told them about being sold. About survival. About making choices good and bad. About consequences. About prison. About rebuilding.
