I wake up, finally free of the recurring nightmare: Alex being hurt by Piscatella. I am struggling to breathe, and run my hands through my hair, which makes me realise I'm drenched in my own sweat. A noise escapes my lips, it's only a few moments later I realise I'm sobbing. I can't.. I hate seeing Alex in pain. I was helpless to stop the person I love the most in the world being hurt. I still feel guilty about it. Even though Al reassures me there was nothing I can do, and she's fine now.
After a while I realise that today is finally the day Alex is getting out. From some miracle, Alex is getting early release too. I know how excited she is, and I'm buzzing to be able to see her, touch her, smell her. But I'm also nervous, because I really want her to like the apartment.
When I got out, thanks to my cheating fathers ties, I managed to get a job. It's not the best, and I don't reallt enjoy it, but it pays my bills and gives me something to do. Stops me reminding myself how Alex is in prison, and all the good and bad reminders that prison has. I bought a one bedroom apartment in Queens, it isnt much, but it is enough.
The apartment is on the fourth floor, and I'm number 6. As soon as you walk in, you see the main living space. To the right, is the kitchen. On the right back wall there are the cupboards, the oven, dishwasher and fridge. There is also a marble island, with a sink in the middle, with three stools the other side of the sink. But, at the end of the right wall lies a oak wood door. When you open this door, you're into the pantry, which contains the washingmachine and tumble dryer. To the left of the room, there's a red soft sofa, which molds into you whenever you sit on it, and there are also red recliner chairs either side of the sofa, in front of the sofa there's a tv. Either side of the TV stacked with my favourite DVDS, like Love, Actually. Then, there's two steps on the left of the "living room" (which was mainly just a sofa). When you go up these steps, you're on a wooden floor, covered in soft carpet. Above the carpet is the bed, and the bed is crowned with pillows and a faux fur throw. On either side of the bed there is a table, the left side table contains the phone for the apartment. the back wall of my bedroom, is covered in pictures, mostly of Alex and I. Some are Polaroid's I took when I go running. Next, on the left of the bed there's a wardrobe fixed into the wall. The wardrobe is huge, and you can hang dresses onto the top half, and put shoes or pants in the draws below. The bedroom isn't sealed off from the living room at all, with just some wooden beams from the ceiling to the raised platform of the bedroom, and they don't act as curtains. However, we do have light green curtains which have yellow flowers on, to cover every window. I chose this apartment as I knew Alex loves reading: we have a window seat, to the right of the bed, and embedded in the bedrooms walls, there are holes filled with books for Alex. Next to the wardrobe there's another door, which leads to the bathroom. The bathroom is tiled and pristine, with a part open shower, two sinks, a huge bath and a toilet. The apartment is filled with fairy lights, and there's plants in hanging baskets,hanging from the ceiling in between the wooden beams. (A/N: Sorry for all the detail I'm just trying to get everyone to understand the setting of the apartment).
I decorated the apartment myself, and I've put little things around the place, in the hopes Alex likes it. I've even got some plants on some window sills. Most are dead though, but I'm hoping because Alex used to do gardening/ outdoors work at Litchfield, she'll be able to keep the plants alive.
I quickly get dressed, and check the time. 8:45am. By the time I arrive at Litchfield Alex will be coming out. I dash downstairs and out of the building, and hop into Cals car. And start on the too-long drive to the prison, I just want to see Al now, not in 20 minuets. I don't yet have my own car, I mainly walk or cycle to work, and if I need to go shopping to shops that aren't nearby, I usually get the subway. Where the apartment building is, is extremely beneficial. Five minuets away there's a large supermarket, as well as a grocery store. I'm next door to a pharmacy as well, so I feel like if I need to buy emergency supplies- I'm covered.
After singing along to the songs Alex put on a "mixtape" months ago, I've arrived at the prison. I quickly get out of the car, smooth out my clothes and check in Cal's cars mirrors how I look. I look good I suppose, I hope Alex thinks I do. I start fidgeting in nerves, desperate to see my soulmate walk out of the prison.
A few minutes later, she does. But I'm shocked, she looks so different. In a way that scares me.
