Unexpected

Alicia James

Rollens parks the police car at Mills University. We walk up to the entrance of the university.

"Where do you want to start?" Rollens asks.

"Let's walk around the university in their shoes to get the feel of their days at Mills."

"Alright to the Administration we go."

We walk up to Administration.

"So how was it? First time taking him to see her, right?"

"Yea... it was okay. We cried together and it just... I don't know but I know a weight has been lifted off my shoulders today bringing him to see her."

We stopped and looked at each other.

"Any flashbacks?"

"Just when I relapsed and how he was there."

"Good, at least it ended good."

"And you Rollens, do you still have nightmares?"

She took a deep breath.

"Yeah... I do... being in a psych ward most of my life because of me killing my brother when I was 9, so he could stop doing those things to me..." A tear ran down her cheek," and having no one to believe you, even your own parents. Everyone saying you're crazy because he was top of his class his sophomore year. Football, basketball, you name it, he was on it. Some days, when he had friends over, they joined in on it. God I tried. I told momma and she thought I was crazy, making lies like that and I get punished. Me and not them, not him. So I did something about it."

She looks at me with tears in her eyes.

"Olivia, it may have shaped who you are, but it does not define you. Look at you, smart, beautiful, funny, and a kick ass partner of the Wentworth Police Department if I do say so myself."

She laughs. I wipe her tears. "You are also strong, so strong. You did what you had to do and I respect you for that."

My phone buzzes. Eddy. I stare at it to decide what to do.

"Answer him," Rollens says. I answer the phone.

"Eddy."

"Alicia."

"What's wrong Eddy?"

"It's about your mother."

"What about her?"

"She's here."