Page 44 of Fall onto me
Hesitantly, he enters in that I have an allergy and request a Benadryl from the infirmary, and then he quietly walks me back.
When I return to my cell, my entire body is shaking. My bunkmate is lying in his bed, flipping through a hunting magazine.
“What are you in for?” he asks.
I nearly don’t speak, but I’ve lost everything and everyone. Plus, it’s fucking boring in here. “Drug charges. You?”
“Speeding, reckless driving.”
“Damn,” I respond, barely listening.
“I wrecked my Corvette racing some idiot with a Honda.”
That sucks. “Fuck, what year?”
“Brand spankin’ new.”
“How long will you be here?”
I hear the sounds of his thin blanket moving around. “They impounded it, and I had a little bag of weed so I’m thinking they’re going to confiscate my car as evidence.”
“Break in while they’re busy and take it back.”
The man below me laughs. “I would, but the car isn’t as important as my wife and daughter. I’ve only got a week here. Don’t want to come back.”
“Yeah, this place fucking sucks.”
“First time?”
I wish it wasn’t. “No, I get a lot of speeding tickets on my bike. They like to hold me here overnight sometimes.”
“Oh God, you’re one of those crotch rocket kids, aren’t you?”
“Something like that.” I pause. “You’re one of those old men with a midlife crisis car,” I joke.
“Something like that.” He lets out a laugh. “What are you doing with drugs?” He sounds like a concerned father, and I have to roll my eyes. But talking to him is better than being in my head.
I plop down from the top bunk and get in the chair beside him, my fast movements making him flinch. He’s nothing more than a suburban dad, free of tattoos and was probably trying to show off in front of the younger generation. I lean back in the seat to show I’m not a threat. “You won’t believe me, but I was set up.”
“Set up.” He chuckles. “Right.”
I don’t want to talk about Skyler, but I miss her so fucking much. “You said your wife and daughter.”
The man tenses, drawing into himself, regretting the decision to talk to the criminal about the ladies in his life.
I add, “I have a girl of my own, and a little sister. I’m only asking, because …” I drop my head into my hands, trying to hold back tears. “I’m scared.”
In front of Barnes, I couldn’t break down. Every ounce of me told him to tell Skyler to leave. I don’t know what else to do.
The man takes pity on me, tilting his head as he sits up. “Listen, son. If you are innocent, the cops will do their job and realize it was a setup.” He doesn’t sound like he believes my claim of innocence, but there’s a sad look in his eyes that tells me he believes me. A smile graces his face, smoothing out the wrinkles on his cheeks and bringing them to his eyes. “Jennings, right?”
“Ghost,” I correct. “Santiago?” I guess, since Barnes said it earlier.
He nods. “Nice to meet you.”
I don’t know what else to talk about, so I decide to try and sleep.
Before I jump back up, I look down at him with narrowed eyes. “You tell a single fucking soul that I said I was scared, and I’ll kill you in your sleep.” It’s too big of a threat, and I would never do it, but it gets the job done. You can’t make friends here.