Short Stories

Tainted Rose

"ey you,M12, you got a visitor" the guard says.
"Oh finally, somebody does care about me" I spit out at my roommate.
I quickly splash water in my face and rub my hands with water over my orange and white stripped pants. I start unbuttoning my shirt and before I get to the second button the guard shouts "you know the rules Xandre" and I quickly button it.

"Turn around and give me your hands"

"Hol'up" I say as I put my wavy black hair in a messy bun.
I do as I'm told and cuffs circle both my hands before I'm led out of the prison cell.

"Who is it? Is it a young man?" I ask as we walk through some passages.
It takes a while before the guard replies.

"You'll see"

She leads me through a door and begins to uncuff me and says:
"Go to the fourth block from your right"

As I walk towards there, I try to take a peek of who it might be. Couldn't be George, could it? Maybe John, or Denise?

I stop right in front of the fourth block and immediately take a step back. I'm taken aback by the man seated behind the glass.
I assemble myself after a minute and quickly snatch the phone and put it to my ear. My eyes are overwhelmed with tears and I just stare at him, and he stares back at me.

"Alexandre" he beams out and tilts his head a little, with eyes solely focused on me.

"Every one calls me Xandre now, dad" I look down as I say this.
There's a long pause before I finally look at him again.

"Who told you?"

"It doesn't matter, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because... B-because I I I" I stutter as I realise I don't have any appropriate words.

"Speak to me Alexandre" he says gently to me.

When he notices that I don't say anything, he continues.

"I don't need to know everything, I just want us to go home." He says with a gleam of tears in his eyes.

I laugh at the word home. I have no home. Not anymore.
"No! You think I would go back with you?" I scowl back at him as soon as I'm done laughing hysterically.

He face palms and softly says yes.

"Nope! This young lady ain't moving an inch, look around old man!" I smile sarcastically at him

"I'll bail you out, and then we'll go home"

"Either way, I'm not leaving, I'm not going back"
"Yes you are young lady!" He says, rising his tone, and he continues softly "I miss you"

" I don't miss you though" I lie sternly

At this, knowing I had lied, He shakes his head in anger.

"Alexandre Marie Stahl! We're going home!" He shouts at me.

Marie. The name brings so much memories of her. No body has ever called me Marie ever since she left, not even he could bring himself to say the name and here he is, shouting it at the top of his lungs.

I feel a tear drop on my cheek and quickly wipe it away.

"I can't go back dad, she's not there anymore, I just can't re- live my past"I say with difficulty.

"I'm sorry. I'm the reason you're here. I was so caught up in my own grief I forgot about yours. I'm sorry. Let's go home and we'll handle this, together."

I pause. All I can do is look in his sincere eyes. Not the red,hurt, drunken eyes I saw before I left, Not those eyes that screamed help.

I place my hand on the glass and so does he. I nod in agreement and I see his smile.
"You help me, I help you. We are one" I say

"We are one. I'm so happy to have you back!"

"Yes, I-"

"Time's up mate!" A new guard says to me.

I look back at my dad and all I want is to hug him and tell him I miss him.

" I love you kid" he says with a smile.

"Who're you calling a kid? I'm 20 years old now, an adult!" I say, blushing.

He covers his mouth and all I hear is a muffled laugh.

" I love you too Dad" I smile at him as the guard tosses me away.

As I am walked to my cell, I laugh all the way and think of the new adventure I would have with my dad. Not an easy one though, what matters is that we'll be in it together, at last.