Brad Yule

That was safe.

That still kept him at a little bit distance, and that made me feel safe.

But then I started realizing I liked him, and I was lying to myself.

Yes, his name was Jim, but he was also my father.

But I couldn't call him dad because I'd had an awesome dad, and I wasn't cool with letting anybody else share that title.

So we bounced back and forth in conversation.

He suggested father one time.

That reminded me of Star Wars.

I'm like, that's too formal.

I'm not doing that.

So we settled on Pop.

And Pop and I kept getting to know each other, kept talking.

The Louisiana legislator kept doing what they were doing.

And finally, they proposed a bill that would make him ultimately eligible for parole for the first time in his life in 50 years.

While we were waiting for that bill to become law and finally happen, COVID visitation restrictions finally lifted and I could go see him.

During that visit, we really talked more about what it would be like if he actually got out.

There was no guarantee.

Only thing that he was guaranteed was a parole hearing at some point, but no guarantee of actually getting out.

But we were daydreaming.

At the end of that visit, he got up to be escorted out of the visitation room and go be searched and taken back to his dorm.