The First Ultra-Sound
Alex was pacing around the bathroom with her hand over her mouth. Half her hair was straightened perfectly and half was messily thrown over her left ear with a clip while she finished her make-up. She was cycling between getting her hair and make-up finished and drinking her now cold coffee while trying not to throw up.
"Fuck..." She clearly whispered as she thought about the day ahead. This was real, they were really going to see their baby's heartbeat and little form inside of Piper and Alex couldn't decide whether she was more terrified or excited. This was never the plan she had in mind for life in her early forties, but she could no longer see it any other way. The thought of it lifted her lips into a tight smile, before she looked toward their bedroom.
Piper was calmly parading around their bedroom with her Cafe au Lait in hand. Hair and make-up already done for nearly an hour effortlessly making the bed and opening up windows to let air into their very bright master bedroom she reminded Alex of the women she watched leave prison without her so many years before. She fell into the memory quietly as she slumped down on the toilet seat. -
The Beginning of the end-When Piper Left Prison
"Vause! Up and at um." Alex got up slowly, dizzied with home-made booze from Pousey's Library stash and vision blurred with tears. This day was the happiest and most dreaded she had had in forever and she was determined not to fuck it up for Piper. She followed the guard to the gates of the prison to bid Piper good bye.
She pulled nervously at the ends of her hair and wiped the tears from her eyes sniffling loudly as she tried to regain her composure. Then she spotted her. She stood tall, all 5'7 of her tiny frame. She was adjusting her loose fitting clothing that she had come in with and her hair was tossed up in a messy bun on top of her head. Alex smiled lightly at her light purple shirt and basic-bitch look she was sporting that no longer suited her at all, but she was beautiful. She was gathering the remainder of her belongings and signing paper work. Alex chocked back a fit of tears and moved toward the gate. They met eyes briefly before Alex bolted toward her.
"Al-Alex!" She whispered before they were engulfed in each others arms.
"Inmate! Hands off!" The new attending guard shouted as he began to move toward Alex. But she only held Piper closer. Taking in her smell, the way she felt and how she tasted. He got close enough to pull her away before Heally waved him away.
"I've got it. You can go." He said. Nodding toward Piper as if to say go ahead. Though, they didn't need permission it certainly helped the sincerity of their good bye.
"Al, I do-don't know what to say. I'm going to be so lost without you-you have to take care of yourself in here so that I can see you every week okay? Add me to your visitors list as soon as I leave okay. Okay?" Alex still wrapped in Piper's chest was staring at the floor. She slowly raised her head to look Piper in the eyes.
"I promise, the moment you walk out that door I will get you on my list." Tears welled up in Piper's eyes the moment they locked eyes. Alex placed her hand on Piper's left cheek.
"Aw come on kid, don't do this to me. Chin up, you are getting out of this shit hole! You can take a shower alone, eat whatever you like! Hey, you can go to the farmer's market this Saturday with Pol and drink Cafe au Lait!" Piper's face lit up and they both swayed a little as they stayed held together by their embrace.
"I don't want to shower alone..." Piper teased playfully. Alex lifted her brow promptly before she leaned in to whisper in Piper's ear.
"It'll be a long wait, but... when I get home, our home it will be ours and I swear I'm gonna eat you for dinner, breakfast and lunch. Every-every day." Their eyes darted between each other before their tongues flicked in and out of their mouths.
"Okay! That's enough Vause!" Heally shouted nearly tearing them apart. They mouthed "I love you" as Alex was led back to her unit. Piper walked out the doors and breathed in the crisp air. She was free, but she felt more captive than she ever had.
Alex angrily through herself back on her bunk. She chucked her glasses off her face toward the end of her bed and tore all the blankets off in haste. Tossing books from her night stand and watching as each one hit the concrete wall with a thud. "Fuck this place!" she screamed before hurling her fists into the wall repeatedly. Red loitered in the doorway before slowly coming in to speak to her. Alex didn't spot her right away, distracted by her bloody knuckles she slumped onto the floor long legs folded over one another sloppily and her head hung low.
"Hey, hey it's going to be okay Stretch. She's not going far." Red said touching Alex's shoulder. Alex crumbled to pieces at her touch. She felt so utterly broken and proud of Piper all at once. It truly was the beginning of the end. -