I still remember my worst mistake. My sin made me live the most tormenting days that I never had. My name is Nicky and I was 16 years old when I was working in a candy shop. My mom was the proprietress of the shop and I was the good child of the family. I never did something wrong until I met Vasco in 3rd grade. He was the cool guy of the school with his go hill boots, black short hair and his stylist look. When he talked to me, I was calm until her made me his new friend. I was surprise. I and Vasco did a lot of funny things. No doubt that he was the best kid I knew. When I back come, it was late and mom was waiting. She told me something I remember.

- Where you were?

- I was with a new friend.

- Remember with who you are, cuz you could be with someone who can take you to wrong way.

- Ma, is ok. I will be always a good boy.

But I was really wrong because to the next day, I was walking to school when Vasco stopped me.

- What do you do here?

- C’mon, let’s do something fun.

- But the school.

- Hey, are you my friend or not?

I’d never escaped from school before, but as Vasco was the cool guy, I had to do it. We went to the market to take some things to eat.
- Hey, this was a cool idea.

- Of course, Nicky.

- But I have not money.

- Is okay anyway.

- But how we pay these?

- Do you wanna be a cool guy?

- Yes, Vasco.

- In that case, you’ve got to steal these.

- Steal? But it’s incorrect.

- C’mon. It will be great.

I didn’t know what to do, but after that, I should have listened to my mother. I took the meal and I hid it down my shirt like Vasco. I thought he was right, but when we crossed the door, I heard the alarm and we started to run. Some cops were behind us. Vasco could escape, but I haven’t the same luck. We took different ways and I was close to arrive to my mom’s candy shop, but a cop got drop on me and I was under arrest. My mom was right.

With the evidence of the cams, the judgment wasn’t necessary. I was sent to jail where the prisoners kicked my ass until let me in the floor. The cops were very bad and when I said something, my ass was kicked by them. All a nightmare it was. At night, I cried for my mom wondering why I didn’t listen to her. I suffered a lot for what I done and in 10 years later, I was free.

I was 26 years old when I got out of prison and I thought that my nightmare was ending, but the outside was different. A lot of cars, new devices, the tapes turned into disks, everything had change. I went back to my mom’s candy shop and my mother was there. I was glad, but when I entered, Vasco was there in my place and mom wasn’t very happy to see me.

- Mother, I’m back.

- Yeah, hi.

- Vasco, what are you doing here?

- I work here now. Sorry, but your mother gave me the job.

- Mother, why?

- Why? Why you took the wrong way?

- Sorry, I was wrong.

- I thought you were a good boy, but you broke my heart. After take care of you, feed you and give you my love that is how you pay me?
- But, ma…

- Don’t call me Ma. You are not my son. Keep out!

My mother was really broken for my mistake. Her pain was worse than mines. When I kept out of the candy shop, Vasco followed me to talk.

- Nicky, wait. It’s not as bad as you think.

- It’s your fault. You made me this!

- I so sorry. When I escaped from the cops, I went back to find you, but when I knew that you
were taken to jail…

- Don’t talk about that place. I was so scared in tears. You have no idea about what I lived!

- Yes and I sorry. Wish I had never made you that.

- And wish I had never met you.

- I sorry, Nicky!

I turned on when he said that, but I didn’t listen to him. But now the question was what I could do now without a title. I lose all my school time. I couldn’t finish the high school and I couldn’t go back. So I had to find a job and a room in some hotel. The room was the easy part, but the job was another thing, cuz I haven’t title and the only place where I could find a job was in a mini-super. But the proprietor of the place was somebody very nasty. He paid me less, not enough to buy food and when I took something to eat, he beat me with a whip cuz I was the only employment with criminal record and nobody helped me. My life was a hell. In that moment, I knew that it wasn’t Vasco’s fault. It was mine. If I would have listened to my mother, this would have never happened. If a thief I was, then a thief I will be.

Vasco went to my apartment to make me reconcile with my mother.

- Nicky, are you here? ... What is this?

He found a letter under his foot saying that I was going to steal the market again.

- Shit, I must stop him!

When I was inside the market, I took somethings and I walked to the door. When I was ready to leave, I crossed with him. There was Vasco trying from stop me.

- Nicky, what the hell are you doing?

- Stealing as you taught me.

- You don’t have to do this.

- Yes, I have to. I’m not an innocent bot anymore.

- It was wrong what I did to you 10 years ago. So I own you my freedom.

- And what are you going to do?

- Clean your name.

He took me out from my hands the things that I tried to steal and run away making sound the alarm and bringing the cops. What I could not believe was when Vasco got stop and let the cops arrest him. He gave his own freedom and innocence for me. After being taken to jail, I knew what I had to do. I went back to my mother’s candy shop to make the things like they were before go to jail.

When I got there, I explained her all about Vasco. What he had done and how he sacrificed his good name for me. Mother was crying and she said:

- My baby, I sorry for what I told you.

- It’s ok. I suffered a lot to be with you again. I cried a lot in the darkness.

- It’s ok, baby. Mommy is with you now.

We both cried together during the hug. To the next day, I let the mini-super and went back to work with my mom in the candy shop. Now I’m happy again and I will never forget about the suffering that I lived and what Vasco have done for me.

“You shall not steal”
Exodus, 20:15