When Cherries Fall | Kingston Prisoners

CHAPTER 2 - VAUGHN

       There's a human in my closet. I can't fucking believe it. They're going to think I killed her. 

        I stare down at the girl in my closet in complete shock. 

       I notice how she's such a frail little thing. Her dark, tangled hair hides her delicate features. Even passed out she looks like a tortured soul. I'd know a thing or two about that. 

        I bend down and carefully lift her up onto my bed. Not the most comfortable place to regain consciousness.  

       "Hello?" I say as I gently tap her face. "Come on," I repeat a little louder. 

       "Please wake up." 

       I watch as her eyes flutter open and she slowly begins to regain consciousness. She stares up blankly at me, locking my gaze, but not completely seeing me - almost seeing through me. 

       She sits up and slowly glances around at her surroundings. Her eyes stopping at mine. She doesn't seem afraid though. Which is odd.

        I would be pretty fucking petrified if I woke up in a stranger's closet. 

       "Do you know where you are?" I ask. 

        She just tilts her head. 

       "Do you have any family? Did someone put you here?" 

        I take a deep breath. And I start again, "You know where you are, right?"

        She looks around again and then nods. She looks at her toes hanging off the bed and then looks up at me again.

       "I know where I am."

        I nod and then quickly grab a plastic cup and a water bottle from my bed stand. As I pour the water into the small cup, she speaks again, this time in a more somber tone, "I don't have any family." 

       "Neither do I." 

       I hand her the glass of water and she weakly takes it from my hands. 

      "I didn't mean to hide in your closet," she starts shyly. 

       "There weren't any extra beds left and the staff told me the only available bed was in your room. They said you weren't very nice to your roommates and I, I  - just didn't know what to do, so I decided I would live in your closet quietly so I wouldn't bother you."

       I sit in silence. 

       She starts again, "You said you didn't have a family right?" She put her hand to her chest and lightly taps her heart and says, "I'll be your family! I'll be the best family member you've ever had," she smiles. 

       She runs to the closet where she just sat a few minutes ago and pulls out a box of cupcakes. She stammers, "I even have cupcakes to share! Families share things right? This was all I could buy, but it was worth it." 

       She pulls a cupcake out of the box and extends it toward my frame. 

       "Please don't kick me out. I have nowhere and no one to go home to."