Take Care
I am currently sitting in a cold jail cell with my grandma, just looking around the cell.
“Kidnapping?” Delores says as a statement more than a question. “Kidnapping?”
I can’t even respond.
I don’t even know what to say to her.
“I would ask where your parents went wrong with you, but I don’t care my little pussycat. I never knew you had it in you.” She says impressively. “I have never been more proud of you for doing so.”
At this point, I can only sigh as she goes on and on about how proud she is of me, all while wishing for some whiskey.
Suddenly a guard comes up to the cell.
“Forest Gump didn’t press charges.” He says sarcastically.
The gate buzzes.
He opens the cell.
“Thank God.” I say.
As we stand up and make our way out, my grandma gets stopped.
“Not you, Rambo.” He tells Delores.
“Why officer,” I hear my grandma say as I am walking down the hall. “What do you have in mind?” She asks flirtatiously.
⁂
“One wallet.” The clerk says handing me my wallet. “One bottle opener/key chain.”
She looks at me.
“It comes in handier than you think.” I sass at her.
She glares at me.
“One- holy crap!” She exclaims looking at the engagement ring. “Look at this ring! Boy, you better hold on to that man!” She says handing me the ring.
I lift the ring up and I stare at it.
“Yeah.” I say solemnly.
⁂
As I am zipping my coat up as I exit the building, I spot Peter at the bottom of the stairs just standing there.
I sigh.
This is it.
The final goodbye.
I take a deep breath and rapidly blink my eyes to prevent my new tears from falling.
I walk down the four stairs and greet him.
“Hi!” I greet him in a somewhat cheery voice.
He turns around.
“Hey.” He says in sad tone.
“I just- I um- I wanted so say thanks for not pressing charges.” I tell him giving him a sad smile.
Peter chuckles.
“I can’t say that I’ve ever imagined saying those words before in a sentence.” I say.
This time Peter laughs a bit, but it’s still sad.
“Is uh- is everyone okay? How’s Delores?”
“Well, my mom isn’t too happy, my dad knew who you were and he was mad at the beginning of this whole ordeal, but he needed a moment to breathe after I was arrested, Flash and Gwen are pissed at me, and Delores is proud. Locked up, but proud of me.”
Peter chuckles again.
“But they’ll all be fine.” I tell him. “I really did it this time.”
I search my pockets.
“I wanted to give this back to you.” I tell Peter as I give him back the ring.
He takes it from me and simply stares at it.
“Thanks.” He says sounding completely crestfallen.
He pockets the ring and looks at me.
“Listen, this whole situation was really confusing,” Peter says softly. “But I wanted to say that-”
“Peter, let’s get out of here, babe.” A woman says suddenly standing next to him.
Whoa!
I don’t have the best vibe from her.
So this is Michelle.
She’s a total bitch!
She looks at me and gives me a filthy look.
“I need a moment.” Peter tells her.
“Who’s this?” She asks condescendingly. “Is this him?”
She steps forward.
“You have some nerve!” She says to me.
“I apologize to the both of you.” I start but she cuts me off.
“Save it! You and your band of trash would still be locked up if it were up to me.” She tells me as Peter simply stares at her. “Let’s go.”
She turns away and takes a few steps.
“I wa-”
“Peter.” She says impatiently.
“Your life is calling you.” I say motioning to her with my head.
“Take care.” Peter tells me in a melancholy voice.
“You too.” I tell him with my voice breaking.
Peter turns away.
Michelle grabs his arm and they both start to walk away.
As they are walking away, she keeps on looking back and giving me a dirty look.
I was hoping that Peter would turn and look at me at least once, but that never happened.
There goes my heart.
Literally, there goes my heart as I try not to cry.