We saw our friends. It had been a year, and there they stood, on an open bridge yelling at us locked in caged in corridor across from them. Telling us how they'd grown up and that college was great for them and how everyone was going. And how they missed us, and that they brought us each a bra, a bottle of coke and some pictures to hold onto. Dan laughed at this, he said the bra was Millies' idea. It felt strangely wrong. I asked how my dad was. I'd only spoken to him on the phone a few times. 'He's ok' was all they said.
Darlene saw her brother, she smiled at him as he told her 'Dad's flying over next month, ok? He's trying to do all he can.' She looked at me as if this meant hope for both of us. But I knew her dad never trusted me. They stayed until our 15 minutes were up. I cried after, because their lives were so normal. Darlene felt confused, I was her only safety in here, but she still doubted me.
But it was when her father came that I lost all hope. I was on my own and his words ate into me.
'Alice.' he called as Darlene was pulled away by a guard ahead of me, time up.
'Are you happy with yourself?' his tone was manic, his face trying hard not to cry.
'What?' I screamed over the interference of Thai chatter from the other prisoners and their families.
'Are you happy with yourself? That you ruined her life ... is that what you wanted? It was always you Alice, you were always irresponsible, never thinking about the consequences. Why did you do it? Why did you gamble with her life, of all people?' he looked at me with guilty eyes.
Rage built up in me, tears forming in my eyes and my face screwed up.
'I didn't do it!' I screamed back at him.
'Sure. You're a scammer and you're a manipulator Alice. You think I don't know you? You're dead wrong. The only thing that has ever come out of your mouth is lies. When you were 8, red paint all over the couch, all over your hands, 'I didn't do it.' The parties, the beer cans in the car, the joy rides! 'I didn't do it.' Let me hear you say it again Alice, one more time for old time sake! You lied all those times and I didn't believe you then, what makes you think this time is any different?'
I stared at him with malice. 'Because, I didn't do it!' I screamed tears pouring down my face. I smashed my fists against the cage and the force ricocheted down the corridor as I turned my back on him.
I walked past Darlene. She looked confused. 'It's gonna be ok Alice, we'll get out of here.'
'Sure.' I said in a monotone. I couldn't tell her what he said.