Mama, I'm in Love with a Criminal

14: 'Til the End of Time

14: ‘Til the End of Time

Love is one of those things that you don't fully understand or appreciate its effect until it's taken away from you.

He walks into the room, hand cuffed and head hanging. Blue jeans and a white t-shirt. I smile to myself. He'll never change.

The first day we met, he was wearing the same thing. He had on a white v-neck t-shirt and worn blue jeans. He had on his leather jacket and sunglasses. His hair was spiked up, slightly messy that day.

I watch as his chest rises and falls with a heavy sigh. He looks up slowly and his eyes meet mine. He frowns as he scans over my face. I force a smile in his direction.

I hate seeing him like that. He looks scared. He never shows any emotion, especially not that one.

He's pulled over to the side. I stare at him as the police officer tells him something. I can't make out what he's saying from across the room.

I sigh and Andy squeezes my shoulder. I look at him and he smiles. My mother and Andy came with me. I honestly haven't got a clue to why she came. She hates him.

The only good thing about today is that my father was going to jail right along with him. I'm not sure for how long, but I'm just happy he's getting time, too. I just wish he was the only one going to jail.

"You better figure out what you're going to say now. They're not going to give you a lot of time," Andy says quietly.

I nod as the officer walks Zayn over to us.

My heart pounds in my chest as I hold back tears. This would be the last time I have a conversation with him, standing in the same room. I take a deep breath and decide I will let everyone else go first. I want to say goodbye last.

"You go first," I whisper to my brother. He nods and smiles.

"You have ten minutes," the officer says curtly, taking off Zayn's handcuffs. We are in a room, so even if he wanted to, he couldn't get out or run away.

Zayn stretches his arms out as the officer goes to sit at the corner of the small boxed room, by the door.

Zayn immediately looks at me. His eyes are even brighter than usual. I smile at him shyly.

He grins at me, making me bite back my tears. Andy sees my face and takes Zayn's attention.

He sticks his hand out to Zayn with a smile. "Stay safe, man," he tells him.

He chuckles and takes Andy's hand in his, shaking it firmly. "Thanks."

"And watch your ass. You know some guys gets a little frisky when they've been in the slammer for so long."

I watch my mother roll her eyes and I copy her expression. Leave it to my brother to make a comment like that. But Zayn doesn't seem to mind. He actually laughs.

"I'll make sure to be careful," he tells Andy.

"Good, good. Well, I'll see you when you get out then, yeah?" Andy asks, hopefulness can be heard in his voice.

Zayn nods. "Of course, mate."

Andy smiles and my mother takes his hand. "Let's give them a minute," she tells him, pulling him to stand with her at the other side of the room.

Zayn looks at me, smiling slightly. "Hey," he says quietly.

I smile up at him. "Hi."

His smile slowly fades as he watches me intensely. "I'm going to miss you," he blurts out.