Until You

Until You Loved- Anthony

"Anthony Bear!" I heard my name over the intercom. I was eating lunch with a bunch of filthy stinking jail mates. The food was terrible. The soup tasted like it sat in stagnant water all week, the meat was too chewy, and everyone was stashing rolls in their pockets for later. I dumped my plate in the trash and headed over toward the guards.

"You called me?" The guard nodded and cuffed me. Next thing I know I was being led down to a hallway to the main quarters where the detectives were. The guard led me through the door.

"Have a seat." I sat down in front of a man old enough to be my great grandfather. Don't these old guys retire?

"Anthony Bear?" I nodded. "I'm detective Barley. I wanted to ask you a few questions about previous robberies that took place in the area." He scuffled some papers, "Do you have any information you could give me about that?" He looked at me with a serious gaze. He knew I was a part of it, but I wasn't about to tell him that.

"No Sir." I lied. 

"If you tell me who was responsible for those robberies, I will request to reduce your sentence." Wow, so I'd get out early? Why did I want to anyway? My life was already shit. Mindy left me, my job probably got word, Eddy would never hire me back. And Alex? He was still a brother, I couldn't do that to him. No matter how much he fucked me in the past.

"No Sir, I have no idea about those robberies, I wish I could help you." I looked at the cuffs on my feet. They did this to keep inmates from running away. They could still run away but by the time the inmate took the second step, a bunch of police and guards would be all over you.

"I see." Mr. Barley folded his hands. "If you change your mind, ask to speak with me." That will never happen. I nodded. He knew I was a part of those robberies, but they had no evidence. They knew Damion was a big part of it, since his description was noted by a clerk.

I got up and the guard let me back to my bunk. I had my own separate cell. I didn't like sharing with anyone. When they put me into a bunk with a stank ass homeless man who snored, I nearly beat the shit out of him. I let all my anger out on him and I got sent in lockup for a few days. After that they put me in my own cell.

We stayed in our cells for 22 hours. We had 2 hours to shower, eat, and make phone calls. Every time I tried to call Mindy's cell it went straight to voicemail. I had assumed I was blocked. But I could talk to Mike. Mike was my big support.

"How you doing man?" Mike knew what it was like to be in jail, since not long ago he just got out. This was my first time doing big time.

"I'm doing, you seen or heard from Mindy?" I needed to know she was okay. If that meant without me, then so be it, but I needed to know that she was still moving on in life and not moping around. Mike sighed.

"Yea, she's still staying at the house. For a few weeks she didn't come out but last I heard she started to get to work." He paused. "Last I saw her she lost a lot of weight."

My poor baby. She was grieving. I broke her heart, but it was sincerely not intentional. I just wanted to make her happy. If only she would accept my calls. 

"Can you tell her something for me please?" I asked.

"I don't-"

"Please! Please do this for me." I begged on the phone. The guy behind me was getting ticked off I was taking too long on the phone. "If you talk to her, or talk to her uncle, can you tell her I will always love her? Can you do that for me please?"

Mike was silent for a while, "Yea, man. I'll be sure to pass the message. Jerry asked how you were doing by the way. I told him you were doing your time and staying out of trouble. His new girlfriend Deb and him really like you Tony. They care about you."