Exposed (#wattys2016)

chapter thirty-five ↠ the end

I was dropped off at home. It was nearly daybreak and I was alone outside of my house.

I slowly walked up the steps and let myself inside, the sun barely peeking over the horizon as I shut the door again. I took a deep breath in through my nose and spent some time just staring at the house. Everyone was asleep.

I tip toed upstairs and checked inside everybody's rooms. Gina was missing, but Levi was sprawled out on top of his bed with clothes on. I went inside and touched his coffee cup which was still warm.
Gently shaking his arm, his eyes darted open.

"What? Hale?" He sleepily mumbled as he sat up.

I nodded and tried to wipe the tear stains from my cheeks. I took a seat on Levi's bed and shifted around a few times.

"Caspian stole a diamond to take me to the hotel. He got arrested a few hours ago and the police officer drove me home. They've been watching Caspian for a while, apparently."

Levi's face dropped and he pulled me in for a hug. "Aren't you glad that you're home? I have something that might cheer you up."

Levi scooted away from his bed and grabbed a Polaroid from his dresser, sitting back down next to me as he held it for me to take. "That's my daughter, Addilyn."

I studied the Polaroid of Levi and his daughter, his face smiling wide as he held the tiny infant in his arms. She looked awfully small. I turned the photo around and saw on the back:
Addilyn Veronica Malister
9/19/2015
3 lbs. 8 oz.

I looked up at Levi, scrunching my eyebrows together. "She's so small..."

Levi nodded. "She was premature. It will be a while until she comes home."

I hugged Levi again, more tears leaving my face even though I tried to stop them. I didn't even know what I was crying about anymore.

Later in the morning, I went to see Caspian at jail. Levi offered to come with me but I wanted to do this alone. Sleeping helped shake some of my emotions and made this trip a little bit easier. I reassured myself that everything would be okay.

I went inside through the visitor's entrance and confronted the lady behind the glass who seemed to be a grouchy-looking receptionist.

"Hi, I'm here to visit someone," my voice cracked as I nervously spoke. I never liked these kinds of settings.

"Name and relation to inmate please," the grouchy lady asked me with no emotion in her flat voice.

"Hale Granger... he is my boyfriend," I quietly responded.

"Okay. Who will you be visiting today?" She asked again, her eyes still on the computer screen in front of her. I noticed a line form behind me which caused me to feel even more pressured than before.

"Caspian Mitchels," I recited to her again as I checked to make sure the line behind me didn't get any longer.

"Caspian Mitchels? Not Olivia Mitchels, correct?" The lady looked up at me, her dark eyes almost glaring as she too noticed the growing line behind me.

"Olivia," I questioned, "Liv? Can I see them both?" I asked now, resting my head in my hands as I heard impatient shifting behind me.

"Yes. I'll set that up, go through the visitor door and you will be redirected to the designated area." The receptionist didn't even wait until I walked away to call the next person forward in line. I stumbled a bit but made my way through the big, orange visitor doors.