Chapter 45: Claire’s POV
+25 BONUS
We arrive at the county jail and are met by two officers in the lobby. We’re told to provide our identification and sign–in at the front desk for visitations. I had never been in a place like this before and the eeriness was overwhelming. We reach the front desks and I provide my brother’s name to the officer behind the glass.
“Identification?” He asks as he types my brother’s name into the computer. I could every click of the keys as he typed, almost as if I was in a trance or worse- a nightmare. Leo hands him our identification and places his hand on the small of my back. I flinch at his touch. Not because it was his but because of the overwhelming nerves running through me. He looks over at me and gives a nod to show his understanding.
“Have a seat. You’ll be called back in the next 15 minutes. You’ll go through security and search before you can see any inmates.” He prints our visitors passes.
“What about our identification?” I ask quietly.
“You receive them once you leave. That’s how we keep track and count of goes in and who comes out.” “Oh.. Okay. Thank you officer.” I turn as Leo finds two seats on the far end of the lobby.
“Are you okay?” I feel Leo’s breath as he whispers in my ear.
“No. My brother is stuck in here and I don’t think he did this.” I shake my leg as I answer.
“Do you know of anyone that would want to hurt him?” He whispers back as I watch the clock tick.
2
“I don’t know. He paid all his debts and he just got a job. He’s even got a girlfriend now. It seems like he turned it all around.” I sit there contemplating. Matthew had heard of my success and although he hadn’t reached out, he did send a small bouquet of flower to Jasmine’s one night. He hadn’t made any effort to ask for money or assistance of any kind. That was new to me but Matthew would never touch drugs after watching what it had done to our family.
Our father had lost his job after a work incident on a construction site and after one prescription – he became a slave to a drug addiction that spiraled out of control. I tried my best to shelter Matthew but he saw most of the unruliest times until the untimely death of our parents. Although I never told Leo about their accident, it haunted my brother and I to this day
My father was high and he had told my mother to get in the car with him. She was afraid but agreed so that my brother and I would be safe. They used to take drives to clear their minds before he became an addict. He drove to the bridge on the other side of town and then drove off the side railing intentionally. It killed them both instantly.
I remember the fear on my brother’s face when police officers came to our home and told us what had happened. Shortly after, we were taken to our aunt’s home. Our lives were never the same after that day.
I hear an officer call us over and snap out of the trance that was our memories as Leo grabs my hand.
“Are you ready?” He asks as we begin walking towards the hallway.
If I had the ability to speak at the moment, I would’ve said no.
