I hardly slept at all the night after Olivia’s father had left. I had worked so hard to convince myself that no one in my life cared enough to get me out. But I had greatly underestimated Olivia’s determination. I was eternally grateful for her.
I knew it was morning when there was a loud rapping at my cell. I sat up to see one of the guards. “Good news, Hanson. You’re getting out today. Someone posted your bail.”
I nodded, standing up immediately. The officer entered my cell and put me in handcuffs, explaining that it was solely for my safety and his.
He led me down the prison halls and into a less-intimidating room. The cinderblocks had been painted an off white color, and the concrete floor had been covered with vinyl white tiles.
The officer removed my handcuffs at last and ushered me toward a glass window. A woman sitting behind the window opened a box with my name on it, and counted out my personal items. There wasn’t much, just my wallet, my keys, and my clothes.
She informed me I could change in a washroom right across from her window, and leave my prison jumpsuit in the bin.
I went into the bathroom and changed slowly. I wasn’t in any rush. Being out in society after who knew how long was going to take some adjusting. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. I looked as if I’d aged about thirty years since I’d last seen myself. My hair was a mess, and I was growing a beard. I needed a shower, and a good shave. I needed to wash a lot of grime off my skin and brush my teeth.
I wasn’t sure who was picking me up, or if anyone was picking me up at all. I wondered if the guards would give me cab fare or something. But after that I didn’t know where I could stay. Judge James said I could stay with him, but I wasn’t sure if I could face Olivia. Not after all I’d done to hurt her.
I checked my wallet, to buy time more than to verify the contents of it.
I walked out into the first room, where the woman behind the counter had her head down and was writing. The guard who had brought me in was waiting impatiently.
I crossed to the glass and the woman pushed a ballpoint pen and a sheet of paper toward me. “Sign at the X please.” She smiled warmly. I knew already she was a decent person.
I scribbled my name on the line and passed the paper back to her under the glass. “What happens now?” I asked her.
“Now you get on with your life.” She smiled warmly at me. “And I don’t ever want to see you back here again, you understand?” She asked in a thick southern accent.
I nodded. “Okay. Thanks.” I replied.
The officer took my arm. “This way, Hanson.” He said. He unlocked a heavy metal door and ushered me through it. There was a long hallway, which seemed to take forever to go through. When I reached the end, there was a small waiting room with plastic, hard looking chairs.
I could see out the windows that the sun was barely up. It was fairly dark outside, and the clouds were hanging low in the sky. Even though it was overcast, the room felt overly lit. My eyes burned from the brightness.
It took me a few extra minutes to realize there was a woman standing in the corner of the room. Her arms were folded over herself, like she was trying to hold herself together. I recognized the familiar black pea coat, and the soft brown curls. The familiar curls were pulled back into a high ponytail, but hung lifelessly.
“Olivia?” I asked, my voice croaking.
Olivia spun around immediately. “Isaac!” She breathed.
She crossed the room and threw her arms around me. “Oh! Isaac! You’re okay…” She breathed. She was reassuring herself and not me, I was sure of it.
I crushed her closer to me, holding her so tightly I wasn’t sure if she could breathe.
I finally heard her sniffle, and I released her.
“Hey, Liv, don’t cry.” I insisted. “Hey, I’m alright. See?” Seeing her cry made it feel like I was being jabbed in the ribs with hot pokers.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I was so worried about you! I tried calling every day and I tried visiting, but they told me you wouldn’t take any visitors. I was so, so worried about you! Are you okay?” She demanded. She laid her hands on my face softly.
“I’m fine, Liv. I’m absolutely fine.” I insisted.
All I wanted—more than I wanted to breathe—I just wanted Olivia to stop crying. “Everything is going to be okay.”
Olivia sighed, tears still streaming down her cheeks at a rapid pace. “Isaac, I was so afraid I might never see you again.”
“Liv, it’s okay. Everything will work out. Your dad is going to help me, and everything is going to be fine.” I was trying to reassure her, but of course I didn’t know that. I had no idea if everything would ever be okay again. I wasn’t sure what would happen next.
Olivia drew in a deep, shaking breath and I wiped her tears away carefully with my thumbs.
It took several minutes, but she finally sighed, wiping at her eyes. She exhaled slowly through her mouth and sunk her teeth into her lip.
“We should get out of here.” She offered.
“Yeah,” I replied. I was all too eager to get out of there.
Olivia slipped her arm through mine, almost as if she was afraid to loose me again. We reached her car easily; there weren’t too many cars in the parking lot.
She unlocked the doors and I slid into the passenger’s seat.
She climbed into the driver’s side and buckled her seatbelt.
I shut the door and rested my head back against the headrest with a heavy sigh. I felt free, which was understandable because I was free. But I didn’t know for how long.
I felt Olivia watching me intently, and I turned to her, forcing a smile. “I’m fine, Liv. I swear.”
She nodded. “Okay… just checking.”
I leaned toward her and lightly kissed her temple.
She seemed to relax a considerable amount. “Okay. Where are we going first?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Dad said you could stay with us, do you want to go home and pick up a few things first?”
I shook my head. “No, I can’t go home… I’m sure they don’t want to see me.”
Olivia frowned. “Your parents know you haven’t done anything wrong.” She insisted. “I’ve been talking to them almost every day… they’re worried about you, but they don’t believe you’re guilty. If that’s what you’re worried about.” She insisted.
I nodded. I didn’t fully believe this, but the last thing I wanted was to argue.
“I know.” I replied. “I just…. I can’t face them.”
Olivia nodded. “I understand. So what do you want to do? Do you want to stop and pick up a few things?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, that would be great… I’m starving though. Do you think we could stop at a McDonalds? I could use a big greasy burger.”
“Yeah, Yeah, of course.” She insisted, starting the car immediately. Ordinarily Olivia hated fast food. She had definite issues with watching someone devour a burger. I could tell she was trying to appease me.
Olivia pulled out of the parking lot, passing through the security gates.
“Liv?” I asked suddenly. “What day is it?”
Olivia frowned briefly. “Uh, it’s Wednesday.”
“What’s the date?”
“It’s January third.” She answered. “Why?”
“I was just wondering. I wasn’t sure how long I was in for.” I replied.
Olivia chewed her lower lip anxiously. I recognized the expression of worry on her face.
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