The Convict

Blue Skies

Blue Skies

"What are you thinking about?" I turn my head to look at Dakota.

She's just lying silently next to me, arms under her head, her blue eyes reflecting the clouds as they slowly pass by the sky.

The two of us were enjoying a picnic outside. After eating Dakota went and picked a lot of flowers for me. Then the two of us lay down in the soft grass, just soaking in the views. It's just the two of us today, far away from civilization so Dakota didn't bother putting on her fake Dani disguise.

"A lot of things..." she admits.

"Like what?" I turn my body to face her fully.

"I'm thinking about my sister, about how the last time I looked up and admired the sky she was by my side, the two of us goofing off outside. That was before my parents abandoned us. Might have been the only good day we ever had," she says sadly.

I snuggle up closer to her and rest my head on her chest.

"Dad has just got some promotion at work, mom decided to have a cookout to celebrate. All my aunts and uncles came over—my grandparents. My cousins were a lot younger than me and my sister so they mostly stuck to themselves or their parents. Me and my sister just goofed around all day, talking to family, playing pranks on each other. We ate steaks that day, mom even let us have smores that night..." she trails off.

"That sounds nice," I say.

"It was. I used to wish for that moment all the time. Wish that my life was like that all the time, just nice, carefree, full of family and fun. Like, if everything was just right, we could get to that moment again. I would work so hard to make it happen, try to keep my parents happy. Nothing I ever did was good enough for them," Her voice shakes.

"Well, those awful creatures that call themselves your parents are no longer in your life anymore. You have me now. I'm your family now Dakota," I reassure her.

"I regret killing Antonia," she whispers the admission.

I look up to meet her eyes and see she is crying silently.

I sigh and wipe her tears for her.

"If I had just left her alone... you and I wouldn't have to live like this. I wouldn't have to look like this, things wouldn't be like this," She sits up and sniffles.

"Don't think like that," I say softly.

"I don't want to live like this!" She shouts. "I don't want to keep wondering when police will find me. When the two of us will be ripped apart again, I can't even enjoy this moment!" she sobs in anger. "I can't start a family with you, I can't give you the life you deserve. I can't do anything!"

I pull her into my arms and she just breaks down, sobbing heavily into my chest. I rub her back and rest my head on top of hers.

"I want a normal life," she cries. "I want barbeque cookouts with friends and family. I want kids. I want to hold your hands at a real altar and marry you. I want to be happy; I want to be able to enjoy things as they are and not have to worry about anything else."

"I wish I could take away your pain," I feel my own eyes water.

And I do. I wish I could rewrite time and go back to before Dakota killed Antonia, stop her, tell her it's not worth it and that I love her. I wish so badly that the two of us didn't have to worry about the heavy clouds looming over us.

I wish we could enjoy the blue skies.

"You listen to me Dakota," I push her back and force her to meet my eyes. "No matter what happens I am in this all the way. If they take you back to prison then I'll turn myself in too. We can be together. I'll do whatever it takes to be by your side I promise."