A HEALTHY LOVE

CH.28: A HAPPY ENDING

5 YEARS LATER
Alex had just gotten out of her last parole meeting with her parole officers. She has gotten out of prison about 2 year ago and, per the termsof her early release, she had probation for two years. Now,she was finally free. No more prison drama or looking over her shoulder for enemies. Now, she could enjoy life with the CO she fell in love with. She got into her Nissan Altima and drove to get her new fiancee on her last day of work.

At the same time, McCullough was cleaning out her locker in the guard's breakroom. As she changed into her street clothes, she got a look at her many scars. Some were burn marks from her past struggles with self-harm, though she was now three years self-harm free. Others were from Pandora's shiv and the subsequent surgeries afterwards. Whenever she saw them, she was able to smile, knowing they meant she was  survivor.

After receiving such a large amount of hush money from PolyCon, she had paid off her debts. She spent some of it on a good therapist, one who had helped her work through her PTSD. The rest of the money had been saved for this day. It was going to be the first day of the rest of their lives. McCullough jammed the last of her belongings into bag and walked out of the prison just as Ale was pulling up.

In full view of the parking lot and the front windows of the prison, Alex and McCullough shared a desp kiss. Finally, they were free to be together openly. There had been many close calls over the years, but they had avoided being seen together. Now, they wanted to be seen. They were fed up with loving one another in the shadows.

At same time, CO Hellman and CO Dixon were heading towards the prison entrance. Hellman saw Alex and started to laugh. "I don't believe it. Hey, Vause! Don't fuck up and get tossed back in the slammer," Hellman yelled. Alex and McCullough exchanged bored looks. That was when Dixon remembered it was also McCullough's last day. "This is it for you too, isn't it, Artesian?" Dixon asked.

"Yeah," McCullough replied.

"Shit, it is? Well, now that we aren't coworkers, you should let one of us take you out for farewell drinks," Hellman suggested.

Arrogantly, Alex wrapped her arm around McCullough's shoulders. "Shouldn't we get going, babe? I don't want us to get caught in rush hour traffic" Alex said.

"That's true. It can get nasty," McCullough replied back, "Let's go home." Alex gave McCullough a kiss on the cheek. McCullough beamed as she waved goodbye to Hellman and Dixon. Hellman and Dixon watched, jaws hanging, as Alex and McCullough walked together to McCullough's car. Once they were inside the vehicle, they shared more sweet kisses.

The drive to McCullough's apartment did not take long. Most of her possessions had been sold off, and nearly everything else was packed in boxes. Upon entering, Alex went directly to McCullough's bed where she spread out on the comfy mattress. She wiggled her index finger at McCullough, beckoning to her to come join her. McCullough readily went to Alex. They fell into one another, finally able to take their time with sex without the fear of getting caught or missing count.

When morning came around, they slept in, lingering in one another's arms. Yet, they were leaving for Sweden in less than forty-eight hours. They still had to finish packing and moving some of McCullough's things to Alex's storage unit. Alex had to get a few things out of storage as well, though she didn't want to bring too much. They were not sure how big their new place was going to be, as they hadn't settled on where exactly to get apartment yet.

Once they had handled a few loose ends, they returned to McCullough's apartment for one last night. In the morning, they went to the airport to catch their flight to Stockholm. When they boarded their plane, it was a surreal feeling. Neither of them had ever expected to be where they were. Alex always thought her next flight would be with Piper, heading off somewhere for their honeymoon.

Alex still thought about Piper sometimes, usually fondly, and she occasionally missed her. However, Alex would also remember how their passionate romance was like heroin, addictive but dangerous, and she was glad she had moved past it. What she shared with McCullough was healthier, despite its dark and inappropriate beginnings, and she wouldn't trade it for anything.

"I hope I've learned enough Swedish," McCullough commented as they left the runway in New York.

Alex flipped through her book, a pocket dictionary of English to Swedish. "We'll be fine. Everybody speaks English everywhere. I learned that in my past travels" Alex replied

McCullough: "Is this really happening?"

"It is," Alex said, smiling. She kissed McCullough on the cheek, whispering. "Jag älskar dig."

I love you, it meant in Swedish. McCullough returned the sentiment. "Jag älskar dig."

"Now, I'll say word in Swedish, and you can tell me what it means. It'll be a fun game to play on this very long flight," Alex decided.

McCullough: "OK. Test me."

Alex: "Okay. Let's see what you've got…"

As Alex and McCullough traded Swedish words, they laughed at their mispronunciations and incorrect answers. A new life was waiting for them in Sweden. Alex planned to send a final postcard to Piper when they landed and got settled in, one wishing Piper well.

Weeks later, Piper would get that postcard. She stood by the windows in the apartment she now shared with Zelda. The two of them had recently gotten engaged, much to the delight of Piper's family. Piper smiled at the postcard, holding it over her heart. She was happy that Alex was all right, and she was glad that Alex had found someone who made her feel things that Piper simply could not make Alex feel.

They were content with the lives they had chosen, both believing they wound up exactly where they were meant to be. There were nothing but happy days ahead for Alex and McCullough, and the same went for Piper and Zelda.

As Nicky Nichols had once said, "Sometimes, we have to know when to let go."

-THE END