Homocide Fifty || DNF

34. Closure

A lifetime. A lifetime.

"A lifetime sentence in prison!" George exclaims happily, his eyes almost swelling. Swelling with tears of joy. Tears of everything he's ever wanted. It's over.

George feels ecstatic. No. That's an understatement. He feels rapturous, like a dragon in mid air, flying through different landscapes, obstacles, conveniences. He feels bubbly. He feels.

He feels. He knows what it feels like to be happy. To be truly happy. The sentence had caught him off guard. Weeks of trials drained him. It's been almost a month since the party. The party for closure - and yet he doesn't feel as if the imaginary book he's made up in his brain, has reached its last chapter until now.

Until this very moment. Until the jury said those two words, declared him guilty for a lifetime. George remembers the look on Punz' face clearly. So, so clearly.

And it'd happened one hour ago. One hour since he saw the heartbroken, devastated look on his face. But he doesn't care. Frankly, the thing he cares about right now, is letting everyone know.

It's like a moment in history. Well, it probably isn't, but it feels like it. It feels like this could be a good story for a history book. Or George could write a book about his experience with this case as well.

He doesn't have to worry about Punz anymore. If he mentions Dream in any context while being in prison, no one will believe him. Plus, he's got no proof and people think he's crazy.

George doesn't know what he wants. He simply doesn't, not yet, at least. But he's happy.

With a swift movement, he walks down the long, seemingly endless pavement. Down the different streets in the somewhat cold weather. Orlando has had busier days. He takes his phone out of his pocket, dials a well known number and clicks call.

"Mum?"

"George?"

"I did it."

"You did it?" Her voice sounds confused.

"I fucking did it. Punz is in prison for a lifetime!" George cheers, subconsciously jumping while walking down the street. He'd told his mum about solving the case the morning after the party, but not this.

George feels electric. His whole body; it buzzes. His cheeks burn from smiling. His body feels like magma. Not a bad type of magma. It's a burning realisation. It's excitement.

"Oh my god, George," she says loudly, chuckling in disbelief. George smiles, entering his apartment.

"Tell me about it," she says, George taking off his coat and sighing in relief. He doesn't flop onto his bed like he normally would, he just walks around in his house. It's a habit.

"Well. The trials were shit, but when the jury-" he cuts himself off to smile wider and breathe in," "like.. the look on Punz' face. It was wild. It was like— wow, you know? I'm done! All of this shit it over with. And I've made so many friends along the way."

"I didn't have many friends before this case. I mean— I had Karl and Wilbur, maybe Quackity as well.. but now I- I don't know. I just feel so— ecstatic, you know?" George says honestly. He waits for his mum to reply to him in anticipation.

George's heartbeat fastens. This is real. He's not dreaming, is he? This whole thing?

But he doesn't get a response. "Mum?"

"I'm so proud of you," she says. George hears sniffles through the line. Phew. Wait, not phew.

"Mum don't cry-"