The Convict

Mourning Period

"Talk to me," BB says softly in the wee hours of the morning.

I was hardly able to get a wink of sleep. Every time I closed my eyes all I could see was Dakota, the way she looked at me at the trial.  How betrayed she was when I told the truth, tears in her eyes. Like I had let her down.

"Why does it hurt so much?" I whisper.

"I don't know, the heart is a weird thing." BB brushes my hair out of my face.

I snuggle up closer to her.

"I feel like I let her down," I say after a pause.

"No Mel don't ever think that for a second. You did so much for her. More than even her own parents. Don't ever think that."

"What a horrible way to die, she probably suffered," I whimpered and shut my eyes tight.

BB sighs and rubs my back.

"Thank you," I say.

"For what?" she asks.

"For being here for me, for this. I know how you feel about Dakota." I sniffle.

"She mattered to you, and you matter to me. I'm always gonna be here for you Mel, no matter what. Promise. Even though this." She soothes me.

"Let's do it," I wrap my arms around BB.

"Do what?"

"Let's get married, let's buy the house. Let's do it. Let's start a family."

I feel her heart quicken against my cheek as I rest my head on her chest.

"You mean it?" she asks.

I nod.

"You sure?"

"I don't have anything holding me back anymore. I love you Bernida. I always have, and I'm not afraid to admit that anymore. I know you get frustrated with me and that the two of us are always at each other's throats but... you make me happy. You complete me. And I'm sorry if I never told you that before."

"You are gonna make me start crying," She forces a laugh.

"I'll put a down payment on the house."

"Okay, I'll still work more hours. I don't want you to do this by yourself. We are in this together."

I nod.

"So when should I propose?" she asks.

"Let's wait until after everything with the house is settled, one big event at a time."

"Okay," she kisses me on the head.

After that, I finally got some sleep. I wake later to BB getting up out of bed.

"Sorry, my bad. I didn't mean to wake you." She says.

"What time is it?" I sit up and rub my eyes.

"Just past two, I was gonna go get us lunch."

"Okay." I yawn.

"Just rest today, okay?"

I nod.

Once BB is gone I get up and shower, letting the warm water soothe me. Then I start cleaning up. Midway through I start crying again, thinking about Dakota. I just end up curling up by the kitchen island.

Cali rubs against me, trying to get me to cheer up and pay attention to her, that just makes me cry harder.

I hear a shuffling sound and the sound of the door closing to the garage.