- I'm not going to pretend this isn't terrifying, - i admitted, my voice softening. - But you don't have to go through it alone. If you don't want me in that room, I'll be here. Whatever happens with Lincoln, we'll face together. I need you to know that. - Michael exhaled, the tension in his chest loosening slightly at my words.
He squeezed my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles as he got closer to me, his body touching hers. - I do know that, - he said, with low and tender voice. - you've been the one constant in all this chaos. But sometimes, protecting you means... keeping you away from things that could break you.
I reached up, gently resting a hand against his cheek. - maybe I don't need that much protecting.
After a long pause, he nodded slowly. - I know, - he whispered. - But I need to protect you. Even if it means keeping you away from the execution. - I understood Michael's reasoning, even if it hurt. I could see the weight he carried, the burden of trying to save Lincoln while also trying to shield me from more pain.
- ok, - i said softly, hand still resting on his face. - I'm not going anywhere. I'll be here when it's over.
Michael leaned his forehead against hers, closing his eyes for a moment - thank you, - he breathed. - I promised I would get him out of here, - he whispered, looking down and licking his lips before looking back up to see T-Bag sauntering over.
- you promised a lot of people, Pretty, - T-Bag taunted.
- T-Bag, drop it, - I muttered, letting go of Michael's hand. Sucre came back, sitting next to us.
- This don't concern you, sweetheart, - T-Bag said to me. - you don't get a man's hope up like that and then just .. -
- back up or I'll beat your skinny ass into the ground, - Sucre threatened, standing up and towering over T-Bag. - And it wouldn't take much to do it.
T-Bag glanced between Michael, Sucre and me before pointing to Michael. - you owe me a ticket out of here, Pretty. - He turned around, walked a few steps before turning around. - and I will collect.
Hours ago Michael was escorted to the Final Visitation room for Lincoln's execution. I stayed up, waiting for Michael to come back because i didn't knew he would want to talk or not... I waited and when it hit 12:01am, i closed my eyes and prayer, which i rarely did.
The prison was eerily silent, the weight of what had just happened hanging in the air like a thick fog. Michael walked back toward his cell, his face set in stone.
He had just come from the failed execution, from witnessing his brother strapped to the electric chair, only to be saved by the last minute revelation of new evidence. As Michael approached his cell, Emma's figure came into view.
I was pacing anxiously inside my cell, just a few feet away from his. My heart raced the moment i saw him, desperate for answers. I didn't know what happened, only that Lincoln had been led to the execution room.
- Michael, - i whispered, worried, as i rushed to the bars. - Michael, are you ok? Talk to me,- Michael's eyes flickered to her,his face remained stoic. He wanted nothing more than to talk to her, to reassure her, but right now, he wasn't ready to unravel it all. Not yet.
- later, - he mumbled, his voice low and heavy, i nodded.
I was reading, glasses perched on nose as i read 'The importance of being Earnest' by Oscar Wilde. I was staying awake knowing that Michael would be thinking himself in circles and would soon talk to me eventually.
Michael had no tears in his eyes. I wouldn't shake the image of Michael's haunted eyes, how they seemed to hold everything inside.
Dead of night, when the world was quieted. Michael was by the bars, sitting on the concrete while I laying to the end of the bed.
- Emma - he called out, voice barely a whisper.
- Michael, what happened? Are you ok? - I whispered back. - I'm so sorry.
There was a brief silence before Michael spoke again. - It didn't go through. New evidence came to light...at the last second, - he explained, voice still low, - the execution didn't go through. They stopped it.
- thank god - i let out a relieving breath - But Michael... he was in that room, wasn't he?
- he was strapped in, - Michael
finally said, his voice tight. - he thought it was over. So did I.
