Sua Farfalla

'Now what?'

Alonzo's POV:

After being uncuffed from the desk, I contemplated what I could do to reduce my time in prison from twenty years to less than five.

I shouldn't have promised something I probably can't keep, but I know at least I'll die trying.

A whistle distracts me from my thoughts, making me turn towards the gap on my wall where the other inmate was looking at me from.

"I'm not in the mood for t-", I began saying only to be annoyingly interrupted.

"I don't wanna chit chat either, it's just..."

His eyes looked lost, kinda like he was debating with himself, or like he saw a ghost.

"That girl, the one that visited you, her voice really reminded me of someone I lost a while ago", he said sadly.

"Yeah?, well now I lost her too so don't mention her", I answered harshly.

Maybe I shouldn't be this rude, but I'm afraid if I talk about her then I'll realize she's truly gone, and I don't know if I could handle that knowledge.

I know I said I wasn't sad she was leaving, I know I said it was for the best, but realization hasn't really hit me yet.

Sometimes we don't truly understand the measure to which something affects us. 

For example, a birthday can just seem another one from the pile, but it signals the fact that you are getting older, you're growing up. 

And maybe you don't get it until after a while, when someone asks you your age and you go from saying a number, to saying another.

This is just like that. 

She's gone, truly gone, and I think I get it, but I don't honestly know what that means. 

And I'm afraid if someone asks, then it'll come down on me like a ton of bricks falling over my head.

I hear the inmate scoff and sarcastically say: "Wow, I didn't know they had caught the Grinch...". 

After that, he just hopped off the opening on the wall and walked deeper into his cell.

The both of us with the girl we lost capturing our thoughts.

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Jenna's POV:

Walking through the prison's halls, I notice I no longer feel claustrophobic or uncomfortable in them, but actually feel at ease.

For the past two months, walking through them meant seeing Alonzo, but now that I'm leaving, a nostalgic feeling washed over me, making me recall every single good memory I have of this place.

Once I reach the entrance, I take a good look at it before turning around to start my new life. 

I guess I wanted to take a mental picture of the building since it'd probably be the last time I'd be here.

Making my way towards the bus station, I hop on the first bus that stops and hope it'll give me the answer to the question that has been roaming my mind. 'Now what?'

I guess California isn't such a bad idea, and even though I could most certainly not afford a plane ticket, I should be able to buy a bus one.

Getting off at the terminal, I make my way towards the front desk where a kind looking old man received me.

If I'm lucky enough, this man will be so old he won't realize I'm underaged. 

He's thick glasses tell me he wouldn't be able to see a lama even if it'd be in front of him.

"Hello there young lady, what can I do for you today?", he asked while giving me a sweet smile. 

I wish he could be my grandpa.

"I need a bus ticket to California please, the sooner it leaves the better", I answered determinately not wanting to stay here for another minute. 

The last thing I need is for my foster parents to find me.

After clicking a few times on his computer, my platonic grandpa spoke. "Well, the next bus leaves in ten minutes and the ticket costs about 170 dollars, would that be okay?"

"Excellent", I quickly said while handing him the money. 

The faster I did this the better, because as soon as he realized I was underage, I knew everything would get messy.

After giving me a good glance, he asked the question I knew would f**k my whole plan. 

"Could I see an ID please? You seem awfully young to be traveling alone", he said suspiciously.

By then I was already freaking out. I answered with a quivering "Mhm" and started pretending to look for it while, in reality, a civil war was taking place inside my mind between the 'I knew this was a bad idea' party, and the 'at least we tried'.

What the hell do I do now??

"Umm, I think I must have forgotten it somewhere , is it really necessary?", I innocently asked while trying my best to keep my composure.

"I'm afraid it is, Miss", he said. "Either you show me your ID or someone else buys the ticket for you, otherwise I cannot do anything".

"I'll buy it for her", came a voice from behind me that I never thought I'd hear again.

An arm snaked around my shoulders and a sudden wave of warmth emerged from the person besides me.

"I'm sorry, but are you two related?, if she's underaged then only a family member can buy the ticket for her", the old man said warily.

"Actually, yes. I'm her mother", said Mandy from my side, smiling sweetly at the man before handing him the family certificate that proved it.

With one swift nod, the man handed us the ticket and wished me a good trip, leaving me with a confused mind and an adoptive mother.