Chapter 12: The Prison Visit
Chapter 12: The Prison Visit
A week later, Andrew received an unexpected phone call.
He took a day off from the site and took the train upstate.
To the women's correctional facility.
He sat in the cold, cinderblock visitor's room, waiting behind the plexiglass window.
A guard escorted Brenda into the booth.
She looked terrible.
Her dyed hair was fading, showing gray roots.
Her orange jumpsuit swallowed her small frame.
She picked up the phone.
Andrew picked up his.
They stared at each other for a long moment.
"You look awful," Brenda spat.
"You don't look so great yourself," Andrew replied.
"Why did you call me here, Brenda?"
She sniffled, wiping her nose with her sleeve.
"I need money for the commissary, Andrew. I have nothing."
"The public defender said I'm looking at three years for grand theft auto and resisting arrest."
"Please. Just fifty dollars."
Andrew looked at the woman he had destroyed his life for.
He felt absolutely nothing.
No anger. No pity. No love.
"I don't have fifty dollars, Brenda."
"I barely have enough to pay for my bus ride back."
Brenda's face contorted in rage.
"You ruined my life!" she screamed, slamming her fist against the glass.
"You told me you were rich! You told me you were powerful!"
"I was," Andrew said quietly. "Until I met you."
He hung up the phone.
He stood up and walked away, ignoring her muffled screams behind the soundproof glass.
That chapter of his life was officially closed.
May you like
And it ended exactly where it belonged.
Behind bars.
