The Convict

Off The Deep End

Is it possible to be only partially out of your mind? I think that's what was happening to me. By day I could care less about my life and the people in it. I was trapped in Dakota land once more. But, by night, the guilt would creep back in.

How could I do that to BB? The girl who has stayed by my side through thick and thin. The girl who's seen and loved me at my worst. The girl who wants to marry me, and I would be lying if I said I didn't want to marry her. She trusted me, loved me, took care of me, yet... I betrayed her.

Over and over and over again.

It was the abuse taking over, at least that's what I kept telling myself. I was having a mental episode. I wasn't in my right mind. Yet even though part of me knows those things could be true, the last sane part of my mind didn't bother to ask for help. Didn't send out warning signs to my loved ones. Didn't tell the one person who loved me most in the world how far I had fallen.

I was off the deep end and no one was there to catch me before I hit rock bottom.

Off The Deep End

"We have to work on the living room," I say between kisses. "The furniture comes in tomorrow."

"No," Dakota pouts and kisses me some more.

"You promised," I whisper, running my hand up her nude back.

She shudders in my arms, goosebumps rising under my touch.

"Will you marry me?" Dakota asked softly, very softly.

"What's gotten into you today?" I pull back and kiss her forehead.

"I can see all your messages on the iPad, the ones you send to Bernida too. I don't want you to marry her. You belong to me."

"Do I now?" I tease.

"I want to marry you, Melony. I want to spend every single day with you. Please," she begs.

"Whoa there girl, no one is marrying anyone right now. I told BB to wait. We need to figure out a game plan before we do anything else."

"You just have to hide me for a few years, in a few years I will grow older and no one will recognize me anyway. I can dye my hair and get a fake identity. We can move, far away from here."

"Sounds like you have it all figured out." I run my fingers through her hair.

"Marry me, Melony," she whispers against my lips before kissing me again.

I kiss her back just as passionately.

Then the doorbell rings and we freeze like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Mel! Open up, it's me!" I hear Lesly call before more doorbell sounds.

"Shit!" I jump out of the bed and scramble to find my clothes.

"Mel!?" Lesly calls.

"Uh, Just a minute! I'm in the bathroom!" I shout.

Dakota quickly gets dressed

"Fuck!" I bend down to look under my bed for my shirt.

"Here," Dakota tosses it to me.

"Thanks," I quickly slip it on.

"Mel! Hurry it up! Come on!" Lesly rings the doorbell again.

I look at myself in the mirror and quickly brush out my hair before putting it up in a ponytail. Then I spray myself with perfume and quickly run out of the room, shutting the door behind me and keeping Dakota hidden inside. I run to the bathroom, flush the toilet, and wash my hands to make it believable before running and answering the door.