Happily Ever After.... Yeah Right!!

Part 39

I've been sitting in an uncomfortable bench inside a holding cell for three hours now. I have been asked all of three questions:

1. What's your name? (7 times)

2. How old are you? (4 times)

3. What did you do? (9 times)

After the fifth hour, Officer Jennings put a pair of handcuffs back on me. Then he led me out of my cell and down the hall into an interrogation room. I was seated down on one side of the table with a chair on the other side facing me.

I waited all of ten minutes before a tall officer walked in. He was male and didn't look much older than his mid to late twenties.

He placed his folder, notepad, and pen on the table. He then took a seat on the chair facing me.

"So..." The officer started, "My name is Lance Samuels, but you can call me Officer Lance. I will be asking you some questions and hopefully you've got answers. Make sense?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Great." Officer Lance responded, "What were you doing on private property at two in the morning?"

I breathed in and out to collect myself before I started.

"I was staying there for the night while I figured stuff out about my life."

I heard Lance scribbling on his pad of paper before saying, "Why was there the need to sort out your life?"

The question I dreaded most had been asked. I hesitated and it didn't help that the officer was staring me down. When I was finally brave enough to speak, I poured out everything. I told him my life story in about twenty minutes. Lance heard everything that I kept to myself for so long. I had only just recently told two others, but this was different. Officer Samuels just listened and wrote down points as I spoke. When I finally finished, the only word he spoke was, "Why?"

"What? After everything I just poured out to you, all you have to say is, 'Why?'" I retorted angrily.

"Yes, why is the question. Why did you hide it so long? Why didn't you tell someone until recently? Why stay there?" Lance answered in a heartbeat.

"You wanna know why? Because that place was the first place where someone accepted me," I started with tears bursting forth, "I got the nickname 'Fierce Lex' for a reason. No one took the time to ask me how I was copping. I had no way to show my frustration, anger, sadness, and grief. I just took it out on anyone and everyone because I was never taught or helped to deal with my parents dying. I was sent from foster home to foster home where no one cared. But when I finally got there I was greeted with open arms and smiles. I was shown love. I was told I matter. I got chores, yes, but that didn't matter because deep down I still felt that they loved me. When I was adopted by them, in some way, it made the idea of belonging somewhere relevant. Even though I was given horrible chores and treated badly, I still went back to that feeling that they loved me because otherwise I would be at some other foster home like any other time." I took a quick breath before finishing by saying, "That's why I stayed. I felt like someone finally cared about me."

After I had finished, I felt like a weight had lifted from my shoulders. I had finally told someone what had been holding me back all these years. There was now someone who knew the whole truth. It felt good knowing I wasn't the only one who knew the real reason. While being filled with relief I cried freely in front of Officer Lance.

Lance grabbed the handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to me. "Alex, you've got to understand something. If what you said is true, you've got to realize they don't love you. They only reason you were there is to do their dirty work for them. You're like their mini in-home servant."

"I think I finally came to that realization once I couldn't even have time for myself. I just didn't want to believe it. If you know what I mean," I replied within deep breaths.

"Yeah, I think I do," Officer Lance sided, "But you still committed a crime, so I have decided that you with do two hundred hours of community service over a two months span."

"That's sounds a whole ton easier than what I've had to deal with," I retorted.

Samuels half smiled then added, "Is there anyone you need to notify like your boyfriend or that lady, Miss Dolly?"

"Yes, it would be great if I could talk with either or both of them. If it's okay?" I informed him.

"I will see what I can do," Lance said while picking up his folder, notepad and pen. "Officer Jennings will be taking you back to your cell for the time being, but is there anything you need."

"Yes. I desperately need to use the washroom as well as would love a big bowl of hot soup. If that's allowed?" I asked.

"I'll see if I can get Officer Jennings to show you to a private bathroom," Lance Samuels replied, "And I'll look into that bowl of soup, too."

"Thanks," I replied.

I was answered with a nod as Officer Lance walked out of the interrogation room. Moments later, Officer Jennings walked in to take me back to my cell.