𝐉𝐀𝐈𝐋 𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐃

𝟎𝟎𝟑

AMARI WILLIAMS

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Amari heard the phone go silent, signaling that their call was over. He was feeling a mixture of emotions: love, pain, and worry. He knew Keliese was struggling without him around, and it killed him that he couldn't be there to comfort her.

He let out a small sigh as he placed the phone back on the receiver, his forehead resting against the cool wall next to him. He couldn't wait for the day he'd finally be free from this hell and able to hold her in his arms again.

"WILLIAMS!" The prison guard yelled out referring to Amari's last name. "Phone time is up, I gave you ass two calls today. Whatever you decided to do with em is your business, you know you gave up yard time for that. Let's go" the guard beckons for Amari to follow her out the phone room and back to his cell.

Amari let out a small scoff, his hands slowly balling into fists at the guard's callous tone. He knew he had given up his yard privileges just to make those two calls, and the guard had to remind him of that.

Still, he followed the guard out of the phone room and back to his cell, his mind still on his conversation with Keliese. He was determined to make it up to her after he was free. God Willing, it'll be next week.

Peering through the jail bars restricting him from his room he split with four males, Amari glances around at his peers "One week. Dassit. One mo and I'm out this bitch." Amari affirms himself.

The other inmates in the cell block looked up as they heard Amari speak to himself. They all knew that Amari had a court day coming up, and they had all been wondering how long he would get if found guilty. One of the inmates, who was sitting on his bunk, spoke up. "Damn, what you got, a month?" he asked, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

Amari curled his lip up and the sound of someone talking to him. "Mind yo business nigga." That was one of the many rules Amari learned to live with. Your sentencing was yours. Inmates envied anyone doing better than them. "Stay out the way and keep your head low." The sound of his father telling him how to survive in prison from his own personal experience.

The inmate who had spoken up grunted in annoyance hearing Amari's response. It was clear that Amari wasn't in the mood for conversation, and the other inmates knew to mind their business when he got like that.

An older inmate who was sitting on the bunk above the other one spoke up, his voice rough but firm. "Y'all better leave him be. You know he got a court day comin' up and he ain't tryna be bothered" he said, defending Amari.

Scoffing slightly to himself Amari nods, "thanks gramps" he lowly spoke to the elder. That was his nickname for the man who basically took him under his wing the minute he made it into this jail already knowing for 20 years ain't shit changed since he was locked up, the least he could do is look out for the younger ones coming in. The older man chuckled slightly as he heard Amari call him gramps. He knew the kid meant it with respect, and he appreciated the nickname. "No problem, young blood" he replied, his voice rough but friendly. He leaned against the bars of his bunk, looking down at Amari. "You doin' aight, son? I know court day is around the corner. You holdin' up aight?" he asked, his tone empathetic.

Throwing himself in the twin bed of the bottom bunk he chose to occupy, his hands resting behind his head above the pillow "I'm aight man it's just my girl I'm worried bout. She not too good with abandonment and shit like that, I just hope she ain't out there doing me dirt." Amari reveals in a low tone not wanting the others eavesdropping. The older man listened quietly as Amari spoke. He could hear the concern in his voice and he knew that the kid was worried about his girl. "Ah, I see" he said, nodding his head. "You got a girl on the outside, huh? It's tough being away from them and all the what-ifs that come with it" he added, his voice understanding.

He leaned back a bit, thinking for a moment. "But you know, sometimes you just gotta have faith. Trust her, and believe that she's loyal to you" he said, his tone earnest.

Nodding his head taking gramps words into consideration his eyes drift towards the window draped with iron bars hoping what the elder said proved to be true but he couldn't shake the dreadful feeling she could be doing him wrong on the outside. Sighing heavily Amari tears his eyes away from the window, not being able to see much anyways and back at the elder. The older man watched as Amari's eyes drifted towards the window, and he could sense the worry in his expression. He knew that the kid was struggling with trusting his girl, and he didn't blame him.

In a place like prison, trust is a luxury.

"I get it, son. It's hard, not knowing what's goin' on out there. But you gotta remember, you can't control what she does. All you can do is trust her and hope she loves you enough to stay loyal" he said, his tone firm but kind.

The elders words finally registering to Amari, "yeah you right" he replied ending the conversation not in the mood to talk about Keliese to anyone anymore. Turning his back to the elder he closes his eyes and sighs.The older man nodded his head, understanding that Amari was done with the conversation. He knew the kid was struggling with the thoughts of his girl on the outside, and he didn't want to push him too much. He laid back against his bunk, leaning against the wall behind him. "Alright, kid. Get some rest. You need all the energy you can get for your court day" he said softly, his tone almost fatherly.

Disregarding the elders advice knowing Keliese was going to plague his mind for a few more hours, he nods his head taking in his tone softly smiling.

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