Cook & Effy: Five Years Later

Prison.

"Why do you look like you're about to shit your pants mate?"

"It's about Freddie Eff."

I froze, "What about him?"

"He's... he's dead."

"What?"

"They found his body a couple of days ago."

"How long has he been dead?!?" I say a little too loud.

"It has to have been years Eff."

"Since college?"

She nods.

I stare at Panda paralyzed.

He... he never left me.

"How did he die?"

"He was killed."

"By who?"

She hesitated.

"Panda?!?"

"Your old physiatrist, I'm sorry Eff."

"Dr. Foster." I mumbled.

"It's my fault, I killed him."

"No Effy—

"It's my fault Panda! I'm the one who brought Dr. Foster into our lives it's my fault!"

"God Eff, calm down. Yeah?"

I regain my composure and took deep breaths.

"Dr. Foster's dead too."

"Good."

"Cook killed him. I think that's why none of us have heard from him. He was on the run."

"Was?"

She nods, "They got him a couple of weeks ago..."

"Shit."

"But all of us, well the rest us, we're trying to help him. I mean, Dr. Foster killed Freddie, it was self-defense."

"Yeah..."

"Maybe we can get him exonerated."

I need to change the fucking subject.

"So how are you and Thomas?"

She smiled and held out her hand.

"Bloody hell! Are you engaged?!?"

She bobbed her head up and down.

"And..."

She stood and turned to the right. It was then that I saw her medium sized belly.

"You're pregnant too?!?"

She nods as she sits back down.

"I'm happy for you Panda, you deserve to be happy. And, I deserve to be here."

"No you don't Eff. You mucked up—

"I've been mucking up my entire life Panda. I don't think I've ever done what good thing for anyone."

"What about what you did for Naomi and Emily. She got to say goodbye because of you."

"My life is a fucking walking contradiction, and I'm sick of it."

"Well, do something about it Effy!" Panda yells in frustration.

A guard gestures at Panda letting her know visitation time was over.

"Look, you've served your time Eff, you're getting out. Time to make the best of it."

I'll be here to pick you up next week yeah?"

I nod and wave goodbye.

I stand as I'm escorted back to my cell.

Being in prison sucks.