Betrayal from the Outside

7

Later that week, Hailee and Aliyah found themselves back at the prison, their kids in tow. It had become a routine, visiting their wives and doing their best to hold things together for the sake of their families. The visits were always bittersweet-filled with brief moments of joy followed by the heavy weight of separation. But today felt different, heavier in a way, as if the conversation between Hailee and Aliyah still lingered in the air, unspoken but present in every glance they shared.

As they walked through the security checkpoint, Max held tightly to Hailee's hand while Jenny skipped ahead, excited to see her mom. Hailee's heart ached as she watched the little girl's energy, knowing how much Y/n must miss these moments. Aliyah walked beside her, quiet and contemplative, her own thoughts likely swirling in the same mix of guilt, love, and longing that Hailee felt.

When they finally made it to the visitation area, they spotted Y/n and Jenna sitting at one of the tables, waiting for them. Both women looked up when they saw their families enter, their faces lighting up despite the grim surroundings.

"Mommy!" Max yelled, running ahead to Jenna, who scooped him up into a tight hug, kissing his cheek. Hailee's heart warmed at the sight, though the ever-present sadness of their situation loomed in the back of her mind.

Jenny wasn't far behind, practically launching herself into Y/n's arms. "Mama!" she cried, and Y/n lifted her up with a smile, holding her close.

"Hey, my little munchkin," Y/n murmured, kissing Jenny's cheek. Her eyes briefly met Aliyah's over the top of their daughter's head, and something unspoken passed between them-a mix of love, sadness, and the painful reality of their separation.

Hailee reached Jenna and leaned down to kiss her deeply, just for a moment, letting the feeling of Jenna's lips remind her that, despite everything, their love was still real. It was still strong.

"Hey, baby," Jenna whispered when they pulled apart, her hand resting on the side of Hailee's face. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too," Hailee replied, her voice low. The words felt inadequate, given how much she truly missed Jenna, but they were all she could say.

Aliyah did the same with Y/n, pressing a gentle but lingering kiss to her wife's lips. Y/n's arms stayed wrapped around Jenny, but her eyes stayed locked on Aliyah's, full of longing. "I miss you every day," Y/n whispered, her voice filled with all the emotions she had been holding in.

"I miss you too," Aliyah whispered back, her throat tight with emotion.

The guards directed them to a private room that both families would share for this visit. It wasn't common to have such privacy, but somehow, Hailee and Aliyah had managed to secure the arrangement. The room was small and sparsely furnished, with a table in the center and just enough space for the kids to play on the floor. The walls were bare, sterile, reminding them all that this was still prison, no matter how intimate the setting felt.

Max and Jenny quickly took to the floor, pulling out toys and coloring books that Hailee and Aliyah had brought for them. The two children, blissfully unaware of the emotional undercurrents between the adults, played happily, their laughter a brief reminder of innocence in such a harsh place.

Y/n and Jenna sat on the floor as Hailee and Aliyah sat at a table . For a few minutes, the conversation was light, focused on the kids and the usual updates about life outside-small talk that was necessary to fill the space but didn't quite touch the heart of what everyone was feeling.

As the conversation continued, Hailee found her attention drifting. She had been trying so hard to keep things compartmentalized-to keep her focus on Jenna and Max, to be the strong, supportive wife and mother that she needed to be. But Aliyah was right there, sitting across from her, and the weight of their shared secrets hung heavily in the air.