0.4 Every day for 10 years
-Flashback-
x-o- Stef x-o
After I was driven to the Woman section of the Jail, I was dragged inside to a room and was ordered to undress, and to put on an orange suit. "Am I just a number now?" I muttered under my breath seeing the number on my left side. "10224." I heard someone walk back in and I turned around.
"Foster, you need to take off your jewellery, hair elastics, clips, bobbin pins. Anything but your orange suit needs to come off." I looked at the lady in shock as I slowly took off everything she listed. Even the ring and put them in the plastic bag with my clothes. "Welcome to your life for 10 years." She grabbed my arm placing hand cuffs on me then guided me through the big jail. Scared was a understatement. I was petrified. And the other women in their cells didn't help trying to get me with their hands. Then, suddenly we stopped in front of a cell with no one in it. "This is your cell.. You aren't sharing with any one at the moment but you will be so don't get too excited." She pushed me in roughly taking the handcuffs off me.
"Why are you treating me like I am nothing?" I questioned with a sigh and she gave me a stare locking me up.
"Now, you wish you didn't do the crime so you don't have to do the time." The guard replied with a big smirk on her face. "Sorry to say but you are just a number now.. You are no body to anybody in here. Get used to it, princess." Then, she walked off leaving me standing there shivering.
"I wonder what Callie is up too." I whispered to myself placing myself on the floor against the wall. "I hope she knows how much I love her...
x-o- Callie x-o
Ms Lena drove me back to my home for now. I was quiet ever since the court session finished. I felt so sick in the tummy and I think Ms Lena knew that. "Callie, you are going to be okay." I looked at her with wonder in my eyes. Was I going to be okay? It is a little stupid to say that when I have lost my Daddy and my Mama was the caused of it. What if what Grandma said was true? What if she was right about how much we are alike? Will I become a murderer too? I don't want too. I shook my head shaking the thoughts out of my head and saw we weren't at her place but at the apartment. "We need to pack your things up." Ms Lena whispered seeing my confused glare and I nodded.
"I don't want to stay there for long." I whispered unbuckling myself and getting myself out into the fresh air smelling the sea salt. I turned my attention to Ms Lena who came beside me and kneeled down.
"So, just grab the things you need and we will sort out everything else later." Ms Lena explained and I nodded sadly as she smiled at me warmly. "I reckon after this, I can take you to McDonalds?" I looked at her and saw how genuine she looked. "Just do not tell the others, yeah?"
"Alright." I whispered with a tiny smile as Ms Lena stood up and took my hand into hers. We made our way up the stairs to the floor where the apartment is and I stopped suddenly noticing a red mark on the floor. "That.."
"I think it must of been paint." Ms Lena explained and ushered me to come over to her where she was unlocking the door to the apartment. "Come on, sweetie." I walked in with her and looked around at what used to be home. I then went over to Daddy's and Mama's room. I went to Daddy's side of the wardrobe, grabbed his favourite baseball cap and a jumper that was too big for me but I wanted it. Ms Lena came in with two of my bags. I looked over at her then looked back the wardrobe. I walked a little to Mama's things and got me one of her beanies then her shirt. I wanted to have something of both of them. Even though my Mama is a murderer, I still needed the comfort of her smell. "Put these in one of these bags and take them to your room." Ms Lena ordered softly as I walked over to her. I did what she said and made my way slowly to my room which was opposite of theirs. I grabbed clothes, toys and some books then packed them all in the two bags. I walked out dragging the two full bags behind me as Ms Lena came out from the study.
"I am done." I stated softly as Ms Lena came off to grab one of the bags and wore it on her back. "There is one thing I wanted though." I whispered looking down shyly and Ms Lena used her finger to direct my gaze to her face.
"What is that, Cal?" Ms Lena questioned with a soft, motherly tone that made me trust her even more.
"Mama has photos in there." I said as I pointed to the study with a small smile. "In a box.. Can we also takes those to your home?" She kneeled down to my height with a warm smile on her face touching my cheek delicately.
"Of course, we can take anything that you want to your home." She replied with a soft whisper and making sure I knew it was my home too. "This is going to be your home and your family, darling girl." I looked at her as she rubbed my arm softly.
"Am I?" I whispered with shock.
"Yes, Callie." Ms Lena replied with a big grin on her face. "You aren't alone." I looked away with sadness not believing her.
"I do feel alone." I replied softly as warm tears rolled my eyes as Ms Lena wiped them softly.
"You don't have to feel that anymore, Cal." Ms Lena replied as she hugged me in her arms. I rested my head to her chest where I could hear her heart. It was soothing. It was just like hugs from Mama. "You have me, Jude, Mariana, Jesus and Brandon. You are never going to be alone anymore." I cried softly realising I am not alone anymore just because Daddy is dead and Mama is in jail. "Let's get those photos and get out of here." I nodded and we just that.
I stared at my happy meal suddenly feeling not hungry. "Cal, you have to eat something." Ms Lena whispered softly as she grabbed a chip gently and guided it to my mouth but I wouldn't open. "Come on. Look, the chip is flying. It's flying." She said as she pretended to fly the chip around like a plane. "Open your mouth wide so the chip can land." She tried again to put it in my mouth but I didn't budge. She placed the chip down with a disappointment sigh. "I know you must feel tired and I can see you getting pale, honey but can you please try to eat something?" I shook my head as I folded my arms across my chest stubbornly as my stomach was turning. "Do you want to play?" I shook my head and she looked at me worried. I suddenly threw up and Ms Lena quickly got me the bag to throw up in. She rubbed circles gently on my back as I was gagging trying to get to the bathroom. I stopped realising there was nothing else to throw up. I looked up at Ms Lena with tears forming in my eyes.
"I want to go home." I cried as I threw myself at her and she picked me up, and placed me on her side. We walked back to our table. She grabbed her purse and her drink. And we made our way to her car as I was crying softly into her curly hair as she cooed trying to calm me down.
"It's okay, sweetie." Ms Lena whispered as she bucked me in once unlocking the car. She ran her fingers through my hair gently and pulled it back off my face. "Once we get home, I will get a nice bubble bath running and warm PJ's for you to put on. How does that sound?" I closed my eyes and tried to nod. "Okay. Let's do it." She said softly and shut the door then got into the driver's seat in front of me.
Once I was bathed and dressed, Ms Lena helped me into the spare bed that apparently was now mine in Mariana's room. She tucked me in once tying my hair into a loose bun. "Have a nap and you will feel much better, alright?" I nodded and she got up to dim the lights but when she was about to walk out, I whimpered. She turned to look at me with worry in her face.
"Ms Lena..." I whispered softly trying to pull her towards me with my hand and gravity. "Please.. Stay. I am scared." She nodded with a smile and came over. And sat on the floor taking my hand into hers.
"Close your eyes, honey." Ms Lena whispered as she rubbed her hand softly with my hand she was holding. "You are exhausted." I obeyed and close my eyes. I fell right to sleep with the sound of humming and warmth.
x-o- Stef x-o
We all stood in a line and I felt scared. I was being pushed and shoved by everybody. We all walked through the jail until we reached a big hall. "Lunch is served ladies." A man guard said as he got out of the way and let us in to get our trays. It reminded me of back when I was in school but the only difference was the food here was disgusting and stale. And you were treated like nothing.
"Hey blonde." I looked up and saw a bigger woman staring down at me. I looked up and down at her seeing muscles, tattoos and piecing holes. Suddenly my tray went flying in the air and my eyes widen in shock. "Next time, you give me what I want so this doesn't happen again." She stormed off and I looked around being stared at.
"Move along." Another guard ordered pushing me away but I stopped moving.
"I lost my tray of food." I said in a soft tone looking at him in the eye but he pointed to the tables.
"Too bad, princess." He replied and went back to ordering other prisoners around as I walked to a table of woman who didn't look as scary as that other one.
"Hi." I whispered looking down at the table quickly learning to never look into the eyes of anyone.
"What happened to you?" One questioned and I looked up at the young girl who only looked like she was in her 20s. She had long straight red hair, brown hairs and seemed to not have tattoos. "You don't look like someone who could commit a crime."
"That's because I didn't.." I whispered back to her as I brushed my hair out my face with shaky hands. She giggled and the other two sighed. "You three seem nicer than some of these other ladies."
"Yeah.. Well, we just stick to ourselves." The other one replied who looked at me with a small smile. "It can get a bit scary in here.. And we have kids that we are trying to get out for.." I smiled at that. "I am Hannah by the way."
"And I am Bri." The one who I thought was in her 20s added with a small smile then I looked over at the quiet one who was staring at me with her big blue eyes. "She is Lana. She came yesterday and you know, is still in shock." I nodded and offered her a warm smile which she didn't return.
"I am sure we will be a close group." I replied back and completely forgot to say who I was. "Oh and I am Stefanie but call me Stef." I replied with a small laugh. And they all nodded.
"So, my Stef." Bri questioned after finishing her lunch with a small smile on her face. "What was the crime you were accused of and found guilty of?"
"They thought I shot my husband." I replied back with a whisper and both of their eyes widen. "But, the truth is that a drug dealer did but framed me." I sat forward as they bend their necks to hear. "I have a daughter and I really want to get out of here. I would never harm my husband or my little baby girl." They both nodded and sighed.
"The law is fucked up." Hannah muttered under her breath as she finished her meal too. "We have been trying to fight for our punishments for what crimes we have done.. And hearing this makes me more angry. You are now suffering in jail for someone else's crime." I nodded and looked around as I took a sigh sigh.
"Same here with Lana." Bri pointed to Lana who now was playing with her bread. She only looked like a teenager and that really makes me even more sad. "She only told us that then stopped talking. She was accused of shoplifting and lying to the police. And also resisting arrest. But, she had done nothing so she had a right to say stop and be able to tell the police that." I nodded and looked at Lana. I placed my hand on her arm.
"You are going to be fine." I whispered tucking hair behind her ear with an reassuring smile. "We will stick together when we can, okay?" She looked up at me and for the first time smiled. "There we go."
"You are like a mother." Hannah whispered to me and I looked at her with a smile.
"I am a mother. And I can't help but feel protective over you three." I whispered with a smile and looked at Lana who looked calmer. We looked at each other and all agreed to stick together no matter what.
-Flashback over-
"Stef, earth to Stef." I turned my attention to Lena who was getting ready for bed. "You looked like you were going to fall asleep sitting there." She added with a little laugh helping me into her spare bed in her room.
"Sorry, I was just having a flashback." I replied as we kissed each other. "First day of prison in fact."
"Oh. Really." Lena whispered as she sat on the bed rubbing my arm with her hand gently. "Because I had a flashback to with Callie. She really did find it tough for the first few months." I nodded with a sigh.
"I love that girl so much." I whispered gently with a sad tone. "And the fact she won't be near me hurts so much."
"You need to give her time, that's all." Lena replied back with a sad smile. "She is just so confused and she is struggling." I nodded. "I am going to check on the kids' to make sure their in bed." I nodded as she dimmed the lights. "Love you." She whispered in the darkness.
"Love you too." And with that, I closed my eyes knowing it will take Lena some time to return to the room so she can sleep. She has her Mum duties.
Thanks for all the love! I really love hearing back from you all. -Shaz