THE STARKS ALLEY

30

KELSIE'S POV

"I just wanna say, I saw that blow coming," Sonia told me as we laughed out loud.

"I knew she was crazy, but not that crazy. And to think they wore socks with their names mashed up. I mean, I wouldn't mind that," I said, going back to our cell.

"Like Sonkel? Or even Sienia?" She remarked laughing, only this time, she was laughing alone, "Oh I... I'm sorry."

"I told you, I'm not like that," I said, turning away from her, "I actually forgot something at the farm when we were doing manual work. I should probably get it."

Sonia and I were good friends, great friends in fact, but she had crossed a boundary before and I could see her doing it again. It was a sunny day when we were out of our cells washing our jumpsuits and white canvas shoes and one of the girls poured water on me and she found that funny. Sonia stepped in and hit her so hard that one of her teeth became loose. She took me back to our cell to dry up and it became uncomfortable as she wiped my body, especially because I didn't ask her to. She then came closer to me and kissed me. To her, it felt so right but it was very repulsive for me and that's when I told her exactly how I felt about her.

I got to the field where we were and where the fight had taken place. It was a huge one.

"Where's Sonia?" One girl asked me, "Ain't wise to leave your g behind."

"She's NOT my girlfriend."

"Oh really? Well she be telling everybody y'all been dating. She says you're hers and hers only."

So this is why I had been having a hard time trying to connect with the other girls. Apparently, I was out of bounds and someone had already claimed me. No one owns Kelsie Starks.

"Is it true?!" I asked Sonia when I returned to our cell.

"Ooouu little miss feisty," Britt said.

"I am NOT in the mood for your bullshit right now!!" I shouted at her.

"What? What is the problem??" Sonia asked.

"Don't you think that I should be aware if we are dating?" I asked furiously.

"It's about to go down!!" Jenna shouted, alerting other girls in the other cells.

"Answer me!" I shouted, hitting the wall and not even feeling the pain. Prison life had truly hardened me.

Sonia was speechless and she struggled to find the words to explain herself.

"Kelsie Starks?" A female warden called me.

I'm in trouble

Fights in prison were common, but the downside of it all was getting caught in one. There was severe punishment for that and I really didn't want that.

"I didn't touch her, I swear!"

"I don't care. Come with me," she said. We went to the reception where I found my mom, Kent, Kelly and Dale.

"Kelsie Starks?" The receptionist confirmed that it was me, "With no hard evidence against you, your stay here has been terminated and you are hereby a free woman. You may leave."

This must be one of those dreams I used to have where Kristie was alive and we were back at The Starks Alley

By this time, I had already accepted my fate because there is no way I could be free again, and see the world as I had planned to. I had actually established networks here and I knew my way around these walls.

"Kelsie!!" My mom hugged me, "Didn't you hear? You are free to come home!" She hugged me again.

"Give me a moment," I said, recollecting my thoughts.

I had been found guilty of Kristie's murder alongside Kelly and Dale, It had been the worst day of my life and my first night here was not easy for me. So if I was being released then that means... Kristie is alive!!

I went back to my cell and I wasn't surprised that my inmates already knew I was no longer going to be with them. Word spread pretty fast in that place and nothing got past anyone.

"You really didn't do it," Britt said, holding my shoulder. I only nodded at her and surprisingly, she hugged me. I didn't get to really know her or anyone, besides Sonia who seemed sad that I was leaving.

"I only came back for my canvas, they're too white to leave behind," I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood between Sonia and I.

"I knew you didn't do it the moment you explained everything," she said hugging me. I had waited for this day for so long but I couldn't help feeling sad about it.

"I have been a bad friend to her, but I'm happy that she is alive and I get a second chance to make everything right again." I noticed the cell flooding up and a guard came to take me away.

"You can have these," I gave my pair of canvas to Sonia as well as a peck on her cheek. I had to fight back the tears as I left that cell.

Kelly, Dale and I took the back seat as my mom and Kent took the codriver and driver seat respectively. We each shared our stories from prison and most of them were so funny. Dale seemed to have had a hard time in prison because of his black eye and a cast on his right arm. He was silent for most part of the trip to the hospital but he was happy to be free. Who wouldn't be?

We arrived at Kristie's hospital and I rushed out of the vehicle, ready to see her and hug her and sincerely apologize for my actions. I really just wanted her to forgive me for everything I've put her through and hopefully we can move forward and remain best friends. I ran into the hospital and asked the receptionist where I could find her.

"I'm sorry. I am not liable to hand out that information to you Miss Starks," The receptionist said, then he turned to his computer and continued with his work as he did before I talked to him.

"Why?" I asked him. He only looked at me as if I was bothering him and looked back at his computer.

"We thought you'd be in Kristie's room by now," Kent said as they walked in. I explained to them what the receptionist had just told me and they were equally shocked by this information.

"My name is Kent Starks and I'm with my sister, Khloé Starks and our children. We need to visit Kristina Bulero, We'd like to know her room please," Kent tried again to see if he could let us through. I really needed to see Kristie.

"I can't give out that information to you, sir," he said in the exact tone he had used earlier and turned back to his computer.

"I don't think you know who I am but..."

"But what, Kent." Kristie's dad appeared suddenly. He was in one of the overalls given to visitors before they saw their patient so he was clearly from seeing Kristie.

"We came as soon as we could after getting them out of jail," Kent said, "We were hoping to let them see their friend at least."

"Get out." This statement shocked us even more that what the receptionist said.

"But you don't understand..." I tried to intervene.

"GET OUT!" He shouted even louder than before. We were escorted out by the police who I later came to know were hired to protect Kristie from us. We weren't welcomed at the hospital.