🔞5EX: SUSTAINED OBLITERATION🔞

Acceptance

Syd pov

What a very different Monday me and Laura are having.
She is just getting onto a plane, jetting off to Fiji with her new husband, the start of their new life calling.
Me and Yanni are sitting in the visiting hall at HMP Bronzefield, waiting for Mrs T to join us!
A buzzer sounds and the double doors at the other end of the room open, a flood of navy tracksuits pour through, filing off in different directions as the women find their visitors and make their way over for the embraces they've been looking forward to.
Mrs T is one of the last women through the door, walking confidently beside another woman, roughly her own age, deep in conversation. They hug and both wave at a young woman with two young children before Mrs T's friend heads in their direction.
Mrs T spots us waving and approaches us with a huge grin on her face, scooping me into a hug and planting a kiss on my cheek.

"Hey darl! How are ya? You look incredible!" She says, relinquishing her hold on me and turning her attention to Yanni, who receives the same greeting as I did before she pulls away and sits at the table.

"You kids look amazing! So, tell me! How was the wedding? What's new?" She smiles, more relaxed than I have ever seen her. I glance at Yanni who is smiling widely at her, admiration on his face.

"You know Mrs T, this sounds stupid, but I don't think I have ever seen you look happier! What gives?" Yanni asks her, clearly having the exact same thoughts as me.
She chuckles lightly, her eyes sparkling under the fluorescent brightness of the artificially lit room.

"I know this sounds terrible but I've never felt happier. My life is so simple now. I don't have to worry about bills or make any decisions, mealtimes, bedtime, everything is all decided for me. I do miss cooking, the food here is shit, but hey, it's helped me shed some timber so I'm not complaining." She smiles, placing her hands on her waist and it is clear she has lost a significant amount of weight.

"Wow Muriel, that's great, but you'll disappear if you don't eat. Maybe you could get a job in the kitchen, you have skills. You're a great cook!" I tell her, concerned at how small she actually is, the harder I look at her.

"Syd, I'm fine. I'm living on fruit, raw veggies and chocolate bars from the concessionary. I'm exercising daily, plus my job is pretty physical. There's no alcohol and a regular routine. This life agrees with me. I'm still seeing the counsellor and he's helping me work through my feelings about what I've done.
I can't say I'm sorry she's gone, and I don't think I ever will be, but if I could rethink my decision I might have made a different choice. I've hurt so many people, you two, the rest of the boys, my two! Especially Ben. That boy has been so devastated, but he refuses to be angry with me." She opens one of the water bottles on the table and takes a sip.

"He loves you Mrs T! That's why he's not showing anger towards you. Of course he's sad, he loved Lola, but he loves you more. He may never understand your choice, but he doesn't want to lose you. He knows you were trying to protect him from more hurt. How is Ben anyway?" Yanni asks and the huge smile returns to her face.

"He is great! He's worked so hard this last year to overcome his sadness and move on with his life. He's great, doing so well! He comes to visit me every week and he met someone here!
She's the daughter of the woman I came into the visiting hall with, Mary.
They began travelling here together around 8 months ago, getting to know each other on their journeys.
She's a lovely girl, got 2 young'uns already, over there, visiting their gran!" She waves across the room and Mary and her daughter wave back.

"That's fantastic Muriel, you must be so happy. What's her name? She's pretty." I say, watching the cute family scene across the hall with a soft smile.

"I'm stoked for him darl! Couldn't be happier. Her names Katie, the kids are Stanley and Alana, aren't they cute! Ben loves them already, he's so good with them. He shows me videos of them altogether...... honestly, he was made to be a dad. He's a natural, so no worries in March!" She says, a sly sparkle in her eyes.
I contemplate her words, the look on her face and, putting two and two together, I turn to Yanni and find a look of bewilderment on his face that makes me chuckle.

"Bens going to be a father?" I question while watching Yanni's face split in half, a huge smile replacing the look of complete confusion there just seconds ago.

"Better than that darl.......IM GONNA BE A NANA!!" she booms, a light shining so brightly inside her at this announcement I can't help but cry. Tears of joy for her and Ben, tears of sadness that she will be in prison when the baby arrives.

"Congratulations! Muriel, that's fantastic! Im so happy for you, and Ben of course. March hmmm..... a Pisces then, just like this one here. Oh dear!" I shake my head with a laugh as Yanni playfully punches my arm, feigned hurt on his beautiful face before he joins us both in laughing.

"Muriel, I'm sorry that the baby will be born while you are still here. That'll be hard for both you and Ben." I say sadly, taking her hand in mine and wincing slightly at the boney feel of her.

"It's me own fault darl, don't be sad, I'm getting what I deserve. No-one to blame but myself. Of course I'd like not to be here when the bub is born, but the fact is I will be. Can't change it, so I don't think about it. He or she will never know any different, this is just where Nana lives, and always will." She sighs, but immediately smiles and leans across the table to take Yoongis hand, the three of us now clutching each other.

"I've honestly made peace with it guys. I did a terrible thing and this is what I deserve. My brief keeps telling me I can get a reduction to my sentence if I name the person who actually ........ well, the person who........ my accomplice! I never will, so here I will stay." She finishes with a simple shrug.

When the judge gave Muriel the only sentence he was permitted to by law I almost fainted, despite already knowing in my heart what it would be....... Life imprisonment. A recommendation that she not be considered for parole until such time as she chose to name her accomplice in Lola's murder.
She's made it clear that she would rather die in prison than do that.

Why?

Why would she protect them? If she's truly sorry for what she did she would want to have the person who actually put his hands on Lola punished for his role in her murder, wouldn't she?

I'm certain I know who it was, but decide to keep it to myself for now, having only suspicion and my instinct, no proof whatsoever, and besides, it won't make life better for anyone if I'm right and expose them.

We finish our visit by filling her in on all the wedding gossip, showing her photos and some videos of the day. She cried when Noah attempted to say his vows, and smiled at Yanni when she watched him care for his friend...... then laughed at Noah's relief when he was told he wasn't going to burst into flames for blasphemy.

Comments on how handsome all the boys looked, how stunning Laura was, the gorgeous venue and fantastic weather fall from her mouth as she watches the video, which happens to cut to Yanni and me slow dancing at that moment.
We all watch, silent now Muriel has stopped talking. She reaches for the phone and pauses the video, turning to look at Yanni, the surprise on his face clear at her silent staring.

"When are you going to make her a Mrs?" She thumbs in my direction. "Look at your faces in this video! I've never seen more sparks between two people in my life. You're more in love with her Yanni than even you realise. And you Missy...... look at the adoration in your eyes. Just get wed already will ya, ya fuckin drongos!" She laughs before kissing both of us on the cheek, just as the buzzer to indicate the end of visiting sounds.