𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐱

That same night I sat in my bedroom organizing my closet. Michaela picked up more clothes for me, dropping them off that morning. I hummed a tune that I heard today in the afternoon streets of the loud city, I was trying to get used to everything. Between the music and styled clothing nowadays.

"All right, dinners ready. Olive, Olivia!" I heard my dad yell from downstairs.

I went downstairs seeing my dad there sighing, and I walked past him not even wanting to know. We all sat at the table and ate our food before I left the table going back to my room.

"I really need friends." I mumbled for the 100th time since I returned from that flight. I laid on my bed staring at the ceiling as I continued to hum.
—
The next day I sat on my bed before my Aunt Michaela came in with a folder before handing it to me with a slight smile on her perfect lips.

"Police work checks out, Olivia. Adio was the only one on duty. I mean, he said he was attacked, but there's no signs of forced entry and other than the ding on his head..." Michaela as I flipped through the folder

"You think he's lying." I stated rolling my eyes as I saw her shake her head from the corner of my eye.

"No, I don't know what to think, but the kid had 12 grand stashed in his apartment and he's got a record. I mean—" Michaela said before I cut her off as she sighed

"Shoplifting, jumping turnstiles? This is minor stuff." I said shaking my head rolling my eyes once again.

"Yeah, but it's what a jury will look at and say, "That kids heading the wrong direction." My aunt reasoned as I sighed.

"There has to be more I can do. I mean, why else would I have been drawn in?" I questioned as she chuckled.

"Okay, science girl. Your grandma was the one who believed in miracles." She said as I sighed now frustrated as she started to walk out my room

"Forget miracles. Everyday Adio is in there, his life is in danger." I said as she turned to me and nodded

"Yeah, well, my mom would also say, "God works in mysterious ways." She said as she crossed her arms.

"You know, you can stop goading me any time now. I'm not convinced God has anything to do with this. You think God wanted Jared to marry your best friend instead of you?" I asked annoyed before I saw her face drop "I'm sorry that was a terrible thing to say." I apologized wiping my face frustrated.

"—and yet kind of a fair question." Michaela said walking back in my room and sitting beside me on my bed.

"I'm one to talk. My boyfriend....ex boyfriend has a girlfriend, and children. I can barely even look at my mom. I just feel like a stranger." I admitted my eyes watering.

"Yeah well I know that feeling, you'll be okay I know it. You're a strong girl." My aunt said as she side hugged me, kissing my head.
—
Me and Radd were back at the prison so he could talk to his son. I sat in a chair beside him as he talked. I couldn't hear what his son was saying but I knew it was intense.

"Is there anything he could tell us that might help confirm—" I whispered to Radd.

They continued to talk and I saw a police officer come in and I watched as Adio looked up to him. He started yelling as I stood up and Radd tried to stop the officer as he grabbed his son. Radd banged on the glass yelling for more time with his son and it looked like Adio was screaming.

"Give us more time!" I yelled as they pulled Adio through the door "Stop it!" I yelled.

"Just give us another minute!" Radd yelled pleadingly giving the glass one more hit out of frustration.
—
When I returned home after being with Radd to visit his son, I saw my dad hanging his coat meaning he probably just got home as well.

"Hey." I said to everyone in the living room as my mom turned to me with a huge smile that I didn't give back. I just hugged myself breathing in loudly.

"How was your day?" She asked still smiling at me as I thinned my lips in a line shrugging.

"Good." I said simply as she continued to try to talk to me. "Hey, check it out— every comfy t-shirt and cool LEGO set on the planet Earth and ten pairs of new shoes with many dresses for you." My mom said with a smile

"Thanks, mom." Cal said happily as he ran over to all his stuff,  "You didn't have to. But thanks." I said as she smiled at me nodding.

"Whoa." My dad said chuckling as he looked at the LEGO set Cal picked up.

I walked upstairs not bothering to look at my stuff I knew she bought it for me because I've been having a hard time talking to her after what I found out. It was just weird to me that she was with my dad, and another man it reminded me of watching The Vampire Diaries. It was like as if she was pulling a Katherine, and I didn't want my dad to be apart of it.
—
August 25, 2021
Dec 2, 2024