The Bodyguard (Hosie)

Chapter 23

Unpleasant but necessary. This was the last place Hope wanted to be in and being here brought back memories that she'd much rather lose than carry around. But Hope sat with her back straight and face, calm as she waited. Fortunately, the wait wasn't too long and the person she had come here for was escorted into the room.

Neither woman said anything until the warden left the room and closed the door. Hope broke the silence first.

"I'm going to say I'm sorry."

The woman who had been such a big part of her life in the past scoffed. "Fuck you, Hope. Your apology is trash anyway."

"Of course it is. To you it will be."

"You fucking promised. You fucking–fuck."

"I promised not to run." Hope kept her eyes on the fiery ones across the table. "I didn't run."

"You didn't run. But you called the fucking cops. You're a fucking liar. I should have shot you when I had the chance."

Despite feeling the heat of the woman's anger radiating through the air around them, Hope didn't flinch. She had learnt, through the years that anger usually came from a vulnerable place and one of the best ways of deflecting it, was to address the sore spot. In this case, she had one last card left in her hand and this was the best time to use it.

"We're even now, Maya."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you to take the drug charge at that time, but I've made up for it by saving you from a murder charge this time."

"Murder? You lost your shit, fucker. There was no murder, idiot."

"You're a smart girl, Maya. You know you were going to end up killing someone, either me or her."

"You're full of shit."

"I heard you talking on the phone. I heard you saying you had to cut Josie up. You said it wasn't part of the deal, right? They were going to make you do it anyway. Bet they're not going to stop there. First, it's a finger. Then more. Another finger. Or the face. It was going to get worse and worse until Josie's father gave in to them." Hope paused to see if Maya had anything to say to that. Nothing. The woman remained silent. "You know that I wouldn't have let you do it, right? I would've shot whoever came near Josie. Then you would've shot me."

"Fuck you."

Hope looked around the bare room. "I'm sorry. You're like ten years too late and this place really kills the mood," she joked, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Go fuck yourself."

Okay, so jokes weren't such a good idea. "Maya, I'll be straight here. You tried to pin the drug charge on me back then. I know you did. And I was very angry for a very long time but also very devastated." Hope dug her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath to calm herself. "Do you know what it's like to have your first and only girlfriend betray you like that? I'll bet you don't. So let me tell you. It hurts. It hurt like hell. Damn. And I was just a fucking teenager. I was terrified and fucking suicidal almost. Did you know that? Did you know the shit I had to fight through to come out in one piece? You don't but you know what? I don't blame you. I don't blame you anymore because I know why you tried to do it. And I'm okay with it now. But you owe me this one and now I'm claiming it. I called the cops so now we're even. We're even, okay? I don't want to hate you and I don't want you to hate me. I don't want to end up being enemies with my first love."

As much as she tried to stay calm and collected, Hope's blood was still racing around like a hound dog after a prize. All the memories that flooded her mind as she fired her words at Maya simply took over and made it hard to breathe. But it felt good to unload everything on Maya. She had kept everything to herself for a long time.