𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐀𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 | George Mendez

I | I wasn't ready

In the flicker of a moment, my life took an unexpected turn. 

I never imagined the consequences of my actions would lead me here – behind bars, surrounded by steel and silence. Cleptomania, they called it, a thief of my sanity and my freedom. 

Eight months stretched ahead, a sentence weighted with regret and remorse. None of it felt worth the stolen moments, the fleeting thrills. Yet, here I am, facing the repercussions of my choices. 

It's time to confront the harvest of my deeds, to reap what I've sown.

_______________________________________

After taking the taxi to prison, I walk through the door with a determined stare. I couldn't get my dad or brother or anyone for that matter to drive me there - I knew it would be way too painful. I didn't even say goodbye to any of them. I'm not good with goodbyes, or accepting horrible things happening to me. Usually I live in avoidance, until one day it hits me and I wanna kill myself. But not today - I want to ride the wave of ignorance just a little longer, while I still can.

"Name?", a guard at the front desk asks me. She has auburn hair pulled back into a small bun and a stern look on her face. "Sarah", I answer.

She tells me to wait in the waiting area till I get called in. Well, my last 'free' moments outside of prison. In a few hours I'll be sitting in my bunk, probably already have made a few enemies and pass out from fatigue. I hate myself for stooping so low. It started out as a little shoplifting here and there - just need a new eyeliner, some food, clothes, but it got out of hand so quickly... I couldn't live with the feeling of paying money for anything anymore. I wanted everything without giving anything. It became an addiction...

Usually, I'm a happy-go-lucky person that just tries to get by. But now I've lost my job, the respect of all my friends and family and even my cat. I can't stand the thought of not seeing him for such a long time.

"Sarah!", the guard form the frontdesk called out, dragging me out my daydreams. I stand up quickly and walk over to her.

"Yes, hello, thats me", I say nervously. "Valuables?", she holds out a hand to me. I quickly hand her my little bag of valuables. I honestly didn't know what they meant by that - it's not like I can take my phone or something with me! I just packed a small stuffed animal, some pictures, a notebook and a pen. She gestured me to come with her and we walked down a little hallway into a small room.

"Pick up the speed, we ain't got all day inmate", she said. Wow, I officially became an inmate! Goodbye my rights and dignity. I speed up behind her and she leads me into a closet.

"Shoe size?"

"Around 8.5."

"Clothing size?"

"Uhh, I don't know... What do you have?"

She gives me an annoyed look and sighs. She scans me up and down before turning away to the closet again.

"Probably an M, or L huh..."

She picks out a little package of clothes and a pair of shoes and gives them to me. We walk out and into a different space.

After her telling me to squat and cough, change clothing in front of her and giving me even more shit to carry around, I finally see another person.

Her namy is Tiffany Doggett, but I heard a couple of people call her Pennsatucky - I don't know why, maybe a wordplay on Pennsylvania and Kentucky? Anyway, she leads me and 3 other inmates through the prison, giving us a tour of everything. She has nasty teeth but pretty long hair.