Piper's P.O.V.
I can't sleep. The conversation my dad and I had feels too important. I know that I have to fight for Alex and that's why I'm glad that this tiny apartment that has a couch, bed and minimal furniture in it was an apartment that I only leased for the month. I know that I need to plan out what I will be doing with my life before I leave for Ohio. I know that currently the only way I can contact Alex is through mail, so that's what I do. I sit down and write her a letter.
Dear Alex,
July 2019
I don't know if this letter will reach you or not, but I'm hoping that it will. I just want to start out and say that you're not a detour in my life; I still believe that you are my life. I love you and I know that you love me. You're going to think that I'm crazy but I saw Larry. He helped me understand myself and you and us. I can't believe that he has my feelings for you sorted out before I do. But here goes…everyone always paints you as the villain, the person who got me thrown in prison but the short of it is that I loved you and I would do and would've done anything to be with you. I knew what you were doing was illegal and I knew that there was always a chance of being caught, but that was half the fun. The nights of illegal activity made the nights of cuddling on a hotel couch or bed that much more rewarding. Larry helped me see that before you I was looking for an excuse to divert from my seemingly perfect life. You were the person in the right place at the right time.
We never discussed what I did once I left you when your mom died, but to be honest I don't remember what I did. I know that I came back to the States but I have no idea what I did after that. I spent time with Polly and Pete, not wanting to admit to my family that I had lied to them about being in Europe with Polly, I didn't want to tell anyone about Europe, that was for you and for me. So something that I did do was create a scrapbook of memories. I actually made two. I burnt one about four years after we broke up and the other one is in Polly's hands, although I did wonder if she too had burned it but she still claims to have not burnt it. Even if she has, I still have the original pictures…This must seem awfully off to you, why am I writing to you when you made it clear that you wanted to set me free, but the thing is Alex is that like your tattoo I also believe that 'Love is Pain' the love that we share is stronger than most, I was trying to explain it to Larry and the best way I can do it is to say that it's like you're a part of my body, like I met you and I grew an extra limb and it's named Alex. The only thing keeping me from going absolutely crazy is that I know that I have this elusive limb on me, it reminds me of our good times, both before prison and during it. We fight like crazy, we have amazing hate sex and we hate fucked all over Litchfield but at the end of the day we loved just as fiercely as we hated and that's what fuels me now.
I have no idea when you will receive this letter but to the best of my knowledge you've already been in Ohio for close to a month, and in another month I will also be in Ohio. My probation is over and as I sit in my crummy one bedroom apartment in Gramercy Park I can't help but want you. I love you Alex and if you love me too I will ask you to do one thing for me, add me to your visitation log. I will be at the weekly visitation times for the next three months and if after that you haven't added me to your log I will leave you alone. I know that I can't force you to love me, but all I ask is that you let me decide if I love you or not, and if you couldn't already tell I love you an awful lot.
I'm going to sign off now, I need to go and plan for Ohio, I will be there by the end of July and so if you haven't added me by the end of October I will honour this letter and leave you alone. But my parting note is a memory of us in Litchfield. Do you remember when we sat together on the bunks and I laid my cards on the table admitting that I was an emotionally manipulative narcissist who had bailed on you, you admitted you were a ruthless pragmatist who had sold me out then lied to my face and we both admitted that we sucked. You told me that day that you were sick of getting whiplash. You knew that I needed to have a form of control and so when I asked you what our end game was you admitted that you can't see past prison, you know that you can't get a regular job and you admitted that your life is going to be chaotic and full of adventure and that if I essentially wanted safety and security and to have babies and remodel my bathroom that I needed to go and nest elsewhere because chaotic was what I can expect from you and I knew then that I loved you and I wanted you. That hasn't changed in all the time I've known you, maybe I don't want to do the x on the beach in Cambodia that you offered but I want to be with you. I don't care about the rest, although a mini Alex and/or Piper would be cute to have around I don't need children to feel fulfilled I just need you Alex.
Forever yours
P xx
Sealing up the letter and placing a quick kiss on it I shoot it into the mailbox and return to the apartment to begin looking for a job. The search doesn't take long as I find a job for 20 hours a week at a Starbucks in Columbus. Applying for the job, I flick off a quick email to the boss and within an hour I have an interview for a phone interview the next day. I smile and breathe out a sigh of relief. I made it clear in my application that I had spent time in prison but hopefully that doesn't play too much into it. Later that night as I lie in bed imagining Alex lying in her small prison bed I can't help but smile and hope the letter finds her quickly.
Alex's P.O.V
Two months later, September 2019
"Vuase mail…" I stand from my spot at the table with Yoga Jones and move to the mail deliverer, Yasmin. "Thanks Yas, have a good rest of your round." I state holding the letter, but not looking at it. I never get mail. I don't make calls and do not do visitation. There is no point as there is no one I need to write to, call or see. But this letter is different, it doesn't feel like a usual lawyer letter so I'm shocked to look down and see the name P.E.C in the top left hand corner. Excusing myself from Yoga Jones I move to the cellblock, Taylor is gone for now so I take advantage. Pulling out a large letter I sit and begin to read. I'm barely through the first paragraph when I know that I'm going to cry. The nights we spent together cuddled in a hotel bed will always mean the world to me and that's why I know that no matter how many hot women have ever or will ever cross my path, my heart will always belong to Piper. Reading further through the letter I see her asking to be put on my visitation. I bolt up on the bed, not wanting to believe what I'm reading. I freed her but she wants to come back. She's either the dumbest woman ever or she's crazy in love. I hope for my sake it's the later, but if she's not in love then that's fine too. As I sit the letter aside I suddenly realise that Piper is here in Ohio, but not just in Ohio, Piper is in Columbus where I am right now. She's in my garden, not my pod but she is in my garden and that makes me smile.
Feeling full of energy I rush from my cell and past Big Boo, Gina and Norma all making friends with the new recruits I smile and they look confused to see me rushing towards the desk where we make requests. I see Marshall, one of my favourite guards, "Happy about something Vause?" I nod and grab the visitation paperwork, adding Piper's full name and date of birth; Name: Piper Elizabeth Chapman. Date of Birth: June 7, 1986. Handing the form to Marshall he grins, "So that's the blonde who has been here waiting weekly," I nod and hold up the letter, "just learned about it." He nods and says,
"Consider it sorted Vause." I go to walk away but he stops me, "hold up you need to fill in your part too." I walk back and grab it seeing he is correct I write Name: Alex Pearl Vause. Date of Birth: July 4, 1982. Handing it back he nods and states, "alright Vause, we will sort you for next weeks visitation. Guess that this also means you may wanna top up your phone credit too? Maybe buy something from commissary?" I look at him and myself and nod,
"Yeah maybe I will Marshall."