Merely Existing...

5

"You have a collect call from an inmate Giana Jones, all calls from inmates are being recorded... press 1 to accept." I hear her fragile voice say her name. I accept the charges. "Hello? Ava bear Hunny are you there?" I take a deep breath. "Yeah, I'm here woman," I say with no emotion. "Ava bear I'm coming home! The parole board said I'll be getting discharged in the next two weeks! Isn't that great news hunny?" She asks with an alleviating sigh. I gasp at the revelation. How in the world did she manage this? I mean I was young when she got arrested, when I did go to court for her I heard them say something about the possibility of parole, but I didn't know when or what that even signified back then.

She doesn't wait for me to answer as she continues. "I've been trying to reach out for weeks and tell you the news, considered maybe I can put you on my list of contacts as possible people I can stay with. Since you haven't been reachable, I've gotten in contact with your uncle George, he has agreed to let me stay with him in Savannah. I just want to know if you'll come to see me the day I get released?" She questions almost pleadingly. "Sure woman, I'll get in contact with your lawyer for the details so I can know for sure when. Is there anything you need?" I ask not trying to throw any hints of whether I'm happy or not to hear her news. The truth is, I am not sure what I feel now aware of her unexpected arrival. Spending fourteen years in prison, for a crime you didn't commit did not sound fair at all; so how was she truly feeling? "There isn't much I need, besides maybe a couple of outfits if you can take care of that. They got some programs for me to get involved in once I'm out, and I still got some money saved up from when you've taken care of me. I appreciate that Ava and I love you, I'll see you soon." That was the last of the conversation.

It's been a couple of days since I met Malcolm, he's been texting me every day since, wanting to meet up again. We've decided since it was a Friday, we'll go bowling. I can't believe she got in contact with her brother though, she must've done a lot of digging. I mean with that much time on your hands how could you not? I wondered to myself. Thinking of her relationship with her brother, being ripped apart made me think about the trials and tribulations I went through going through the system.

On December 13th, 2008, I was fully processed into the system. After the police escorted my mother's bloodied self out the door around 1 in the morning, they took me to the hospital. It was 11:47 pm, December 12th when my momma screams made me jump. She covered her mouth and jumped out of the bed. By that time; the blood was all over her mattress, some even on her silk robe. She looked back and forth between Evan and me, a couple of times before she said, "Hand me the knife." I was trembling trying to gather my thoughts; did I just kill this monster in cold blood and watch him die? I got up and did as was told. "Go take a shower, and throw on some sweats and a T-shirt, make sure to scrub your hands well. Then meet me back in my room." She ordered, trying to sound strong. Her voice cracked a bit. It was 12:30 am by the time I was done showering. She also changed into a sweatsuit. She had her back-length curls tied into a loose ponytail and dried tears on her freckled light-skinned face. My mother was beautiful, she was slim and stood about 5'6. She looked as if she'd been crying and her hands were bloodstained. "The police will be arriving shortly. Listen, I don't know what will happen to us, just be strong as you have been." She says distantly as if she's in a different world. Not too long after she said those words, obnoxious bangs were letting us know the police have arrived. Tears streamed down both of our faces as they put cuffs behind her back and read her Miranda rights.

The officers who took me to the hospital to get a wellness check, before taking me to a local Covenant's house were pleasant. They offered me food and beverages while trying to get an indirect statement from me. Asked me questions like if my mom was on drugs and had I heard anything. I just kept my mouth shut because there was nothing to say... A ding from my laptop suggesting that I had an email, made me snap out of my trance of thoughts. It was sitting on my coffee table and I was sitting on one of my armchairs. I reach on the arm of my chair and grab my cell, checking the time, displaying messages from Malcolm asking me if 8 pm was a good time to pick me up. It was already 4 in the afternoon so I shot him a text back letting him know that it was perfect. I check my email from my phone since my computer and phone were linked together and saw what I'd been waiting for. An invite to the BeYou event. I read the email more in-depth and it specifies I can bring a plus one. Great!

I switch to the call selection of my phone and dialed Diamond. She picks up on the first ring. "Bitchhh it's been days! I miss you so much! Guess what?! Andre and I are getting close. He's asked me to move in!" She sounds so happy, I haven't heard her sound this excited since I came with her to slice Daryl's tires and that was months ago. "Andre as in y'all just went on a date the other day for the first time Andre?" I say hoping to remind my friend that she barely knows the dude. She's always been clingy to men, maybe he truly likes and respects her. I have to meet this Andre of hers. I make a mental note to myself.

"Girl please; you know I have powers, you said so yourself. Anyways, I put them on him a week after dating and he's been under my spell ever since." We laugh in collaboration. "He's really sweet though, I want you to meet him tonight." She wines fondly. "I may have to take a rain check, I have plans to go bowling with a friend," I reply shyly. "A friend?? Get the fuck out of here! Since when you got frannnsss?" She asks all sassy. Causing us both to go into hysterics. "Nah for real A, is it a dude? Cause why haven't I gotten the 4-1-1? Bowling though? Can Andre and I tag along? After all, it is a group activity." She says in an assertive tone letting me know she wasn't taking no for an answer. "Sure, I'll text you the deets after we get off the phone because I wanna link you anyway there's something I wanna ask you," I tell her quickly. "Bitch if it's to have a threesome, you know I can't. I'm taken now okayyy!" We both almost die with laughter. I hang up the phone and text her the deets.

I also text Malcolm to let him know we were having company. I explain that she was my best friend for years, who has recently found a love interest, that I'm curious to meet because I want to make sure he's nice enough for her. He lets me know that it's fine and that he can't wait to see me tonight. This should be interesting... I rummage around my below zero refrigerator and pop back a Fiji water. It tastes so pure and fresh. I wish my jellyfishes could float around in it, they'd appreciate me so much more if they could but they can't. I start to prepare them some food that they'll eat in the next day or so. I put 2 scoops of brine shrimp eggs, into the bowl of salted RO water, then close the lid. I add the lid to a glass container I have on my counter and let it do its magic. Shit! I should've vlogged that. I'll do them one even better. I'll do my makeup on live today and talk about my night to come. I've been meaning to read some of the comments on the post that ended up hitting 200k. Maybe, I'll take a look while smoking a blunt before showering. I had my plans awaiting me so I got right on with it, with the conversation I had with my mother lingering in the back of my mind. Note to self, go shopping for her next week, and learn who uncle George is.