I laid my head to rest and through the night I slept. The weather outside was cold, a light snow is all it left. I woke up in the morning my Father left for work without warning. Off to work he must go, one set of boot prints in the snow.

A Correctional Officer is he, created by God to serve and protect both you and me. As he enters a garden made of concrete and steel, even though he can not show it, I know his fear is real. The things that he has witnessed, we only see in our worst fears. Things he dare not mention that could cause the most calloused man to tears.

Yet he goes to work every day in order to keep the evil there at bay. He knows his job is thankless and he does not ask for much. Although his heart is not callus, some times it is hard to touch. Regardless of my Father's pride, my love for him I'll never hide.

As I look through my window and I see my front walk. Two strangers appear in suits, I'm told they are here to talk. My Mother now see sheds her tears because the message they brought has acknowledged her fears. While responding to a fight this morning an evil man took my Dad's life without warning.

I wait beside my front window yet all there is to show is one set of boot prints left this morning in the snow.