Locked in Loved and Anger

“I can’t believe it, tomorrow starts my first day at the prison”, I said enthusiastically. I flopped next to my best friend on our couch. We just moved here to New York from our home town. I was so thankful to be out of the terrible town. Away from the world I knew too well to a new and bigger one, she looked over at me and laid her head against my shoulder. She was snacking on strawberries I picked up on my way home from my interview. “You know you don’t have to work in a jail, there are other SAFER things to do”, she emphasized the safe part. I know she feared me working in a prison with a bunch of men, but I wanted to help them join society again. Not everyone gets another chance to be considered human when you enter jail. I knew that all too well. “Jazzy, I love you to the moon and back. You are my sister, but your comments on me working in a jail won’t deter me from helping them. You know better than anyone how I feel about jails and the people sentenced to live out their lives.” I sighed and stole a strawberry from her lap, plopping the fresh fruit in my mouth. I enjoyed the sweetness. “Plus shouldn’t you worry about your man? He’s been calling non stop since we left”, I laughed and looked at her. She was blushing, I laughed harder and she poked my side making me jump. She was in love with a man named Bob, a funny name but I supported her happiness all my life and he made her happy. I could tell by the way they spoke on the phone, and I trusted him with my sister. I knew he was a good guy. She was worried in the beginning that I wouldn’t approve. I sighed again, thinking of my own none-existent relationship. I haven’t met the right man yet. I patted her head as we watched t.v. and I let my mind get consumed by the ghost show we watch regularly. “Come on Jazzy, let’s get you to bed, you have to go to the library tomorrow and I have to get to the jail in time”, I patted her head lightly to wake her up. She blinked and lifted her head, she walked into the kitchen to put the fruit away and then walked into her room, after saying goodnight. I turned off the TV and made sure our home was locked and safe. I walked into my own room and closed the door. I collapsed onto my bed exhausted from today's events, I soon fell into a deep sleep, letting my mind slip into blankness. -I woke up to the smell of pancakes and bacon. I sat up and stretched my tired limbs. I slipped on my slippers and walked out of my room into the living room, and saw Jazzy dancing in the kitchen as she made breakfast. She was playing her favorite song and I bobbed my head to the beat, enjoying the music too. I walked to the counter, swaying my hips and sat on the stool. I watched as she cooked. She grabbed two plates from the cupboard and placed them in front of me. She laid pancakes, bacon, and eggs and put the dirty pan on the stove for me to clean after breakfast. She poured two cups of orange juice and grabbed the maple syrup from the pantry to her left. She walked around and sat next to me. We sat in comfortable silence and ate. After a few minutes, I was finished. I hugged her and said thank you. I stood up and walked into the kitchen to clean the dishes. She finished her plate and put it in the sink. She was unusually quiet this morning, so I quickly finished the dishes and followed her into her room. She was lying on her bed and I jumped next to her. She laughed and poked me. “So now that breakfast is safely packed into my stomach it’s time for a chat”, I sighed and grabbed the blanket that was over her and pulled it over me to share. “What do you mean by a chat?”, she looked at me suspiciously. I shrugged, looking at her. She sighed and looked down without saying a word. I knew there was something bothering her but I stayed quiet waiting for her to talk on her own time. I looked at the clock on the wall, she had two hours until she had to leave and I had 3 hours. “He wants to visit”, she looked worried as she said that. “Do you want him too?”I wanted to know where she was coming from because I knew she loved him and always wanted him around. “Yes…but”, she stopped mid sentence to play with her finger. “If you want him too, then what’s making you think so hard?”I grabbed her hand and held it so she knew I was right there. “Do you want him too?”, she asked while now playing with my hand. “Why would I have an objection? He’s your boyfriend Jazzy”, I laughed a bit and she looked at me a bit less worried. “Well I don’t wanna be selfish, I want to do that”, I sighed as she said that. “First, you shouldn’t feel selfish about wanting to spend time with your man. Second, I don’t mind one bit. He’s a good guy and a gentleman, and third, he makes really good food, so there's a plus that helps his case”. I poked her and she laughed a bit louder. I smiled as she felt better about having him over. “Thank you”, she smiled back at me. “Always, now it’s time to clean the house and get ready for work”, I sat up and walked out of her room, soon seeing her follow close behind. We cleaned the house, which took an hour, laughing and playing music the entire time. After we were done cleaning, we both went back to our rooms to get ready for the day ahead. I heard her phone go off in her room and I knew it was Bob checking up on her and wishing her a good day. I got ready in my guard uniform I had gotten yesterday and fixed my hair into a high bun onto my head. I walked out ready for my first day and so did she. She didn’t see me at first, but I saw the slight smile on her face and she shifted through her purse for her keys. “Looking for your keys?”I asked, laughing a bit. “Yes, do you have them?”She looked around for her keys. I laughed again and walked towards her. I reached around the wall and grabbed both of our keys from the hooks. I handed her them and she sighed defeated. I gave her a side hug to help cheer her up and she poked me again. “Why do you laugh at my stupidity?”, she poked me harder. “I don’t laugh at your stupidity because you have none, your mind is scattered, so I am here to help with the small things. And stop poking me so hard with your digits or I’ll poke you back”, I explained as I poked her forehead. She yelled no and poked me harder, then walked quickly out the front door. I looked around and made sure every light was off and the windows were locked. I headed out the front door, closing it behind me and locking it. I looked to my left down the hallway and saw Jazzy talking to our neighbor next door. He was somewhere in his early 30s a bit older than both of us. I walked towards them and looked at Jazzy’s face to see if she was uncomfortable and she was. I grabbed her hand and walked in front of her a bit so she could feel a bit better. “Hi Greg, what can I do for you?”I was a bit annoyed. “Oh um, I was talking to your roommate”, I could see the irritation on his face and I laughed a bit. “We'll both have to go to work. How about another time thanks”, I walked forward and he moved out of the way without saying anything. “He’s a f*****g weirdo, are you okay?”I asked Jazzy, a bit concerned as we walked side by side to the elevator. “ I am okay, just a bit uncomfortable around him”, she walked through and pressed the button for the main floor. “I know, he’s a dickhead but he’s gone now… If I have to I’ll kick his ass”, I sighed and watched the number turn from 10 to 9. She laughed, “no way”. I shrugged and laughed too. After a few minutes, we made it to floor 1, which was the lobby. We walked together again and made it to the front door to the parking lot. Luckily, both of our spots were right next to each other. We both made it to her car and I sat in the passenger’s seat. We talked for 20 minutes about dinner and who was taking the trash out. I was making steak and potatoes tonight and she'd do the dishes, I'd take the trash out and she'd clean the living room. I gave her a hug and told her to have a good day and to call me if she needed anything. Agreeing, she backed out of her spot and hit the road. I hopped into my own car and started the engine. It was July and hot outside so I let the AC blast until I was satisfied.