13-Twist of expectations

“I took in account that this is the accused’s first felony and hereby decide that he can be let out on bail. But if the accused is to commit another felony within 5 years, his punishment will be tight.” She banged her gavel. “This case is closed.” 

I almost screamed with excitement. I even hugged Finn! He didn’t hug me back, obviously. I didn’t care. I jumped out of my seat and struggled out of the bench. I ran towards Steven and hugged him too.

“Oh my God!” I said placing my hands on my head, my mouth in an ‘o’. I still couldn’t believe this.

“We did it.” Steven was smiling at me. He didn’t look excited, just wore a professional smile.

“Oh my God…” I said. It had still not completely registered. It all just felt like a dream, and I was afraid I would wake up anytime and have to face the odd reality. “His free…”

“Yes, he is.” Steven told me. “He’s being let out on bail.”

“How much is it?” I asked him.

“The bail is paid down at administration, you’ll find out there.”

“Can you take me there?” I asked grimacing. Steven had already won the case for me, I felt like a burden now, still bothering him.

He didn’t respond, just grabbed his case from the desk and lead the way.

“And will he be set free right away?” I asked Steven as we took the stairs up.

“After about an hour of the bail being paid, for protocol reasons.” He pushed his huge classes above his nose. “They’ll have to do his stats.”

“Stats?”

“Vital signs… STD’s and all.”

When we got where we were supposed to pay the bail. There was a queue.

“Oh my… I must be there when he is set free.” I told Steven as the realization hit me. “He doesn’t know anyone in this city.”

Steven didn’t respond. Just looked at me, like it didn’t matter to him what I chose to do with my life. “I’ll leave you with my bank card and give you my pin.” I told him.

“Uh… I’m not sure you are supposed to do something like that miss Genesis.” He told me frowning slightly.

“Steven, after what you did today, I completely trust you.”

I took out my bank card and put it in his hand. I told him the pin.

“Miss Genesis…” He was still trying to change my mind.

“Thank you so much Steven!” I said kissing him on the cheek as he moved away from me awkwardly.

A few people that had seen this happen giggled.

“I’m sorry!” I shouted back at him as I ran out of the area.

I ran all the way out of the court until where we had parked the car. The smile on my face, from ear to ear. Finn was behind me running too. I didn’t even have to tell Finn where I was going. It was so obvious.

“Should we go?” Finn asked me as he quickly put on his seatbelt.

“Yes.” I beamed.

He started the car, and we were on our way to Duran State Penitentiary. I felt like shouting out of the backseat car window, shouting the news for the whole world to hear. Yoké is free!

When we got there, I did a quick face check in the rearview mirror. I had applied make up before leaving but not the going-to-meet-the-love-of-your-life type of applied. I took out my portable make up bag and began applying; grateful that my mom had gotten me that see-through little bag with all that I needed, to look beautiful for Yoké. When I finished, I quickly removed my jacket and threw it in the back seat. I was wearing navy skinny jeans with a plain purple hooded jacket, what was I thinking? I fixed my hair up a little. Gosh I hadn’t even put on perfume this morning! Either way, I came out of the car and sat on the trunk facing the big electrical gates, like the girls normally did in movies. Waiting.

Yoké would be walking out of here at any moment now! Finn was standing next to me with his arms behind his back and those black shades he never removed. It felt like forever, Yoké was still nowhere to be seen. What if there was another exit and he had already left years ago? Or worse, what if he did leave through here but before we arrived? I was about to step down from the trunk to ask the officer at the gate but then I saw him… It was really him, in the same black jeans and black hoodie. He was accompanied by a chubby officer with a potbelly. They were strolling down the pathway that led to the electric gate. When I saw him, I got down and took a few steps forward. Yoké hadn’t seen me yet, he was just walking aimlessly. Isn’t he expecting to see me here, waiting for him, like he expected me to be in the courtroom? When he raised his head and his eyes caught mine staring, my heart started to race.

He kept his eyes on me even as the big electrical gate buzzed open. Even as the officer beside him told him something, which he didn’t respond to. The potbelly officer stood there and let Yoké continue alone out of the gate. The gate closed behind Yoké, and he stood there just looking at me as if he was seeing me for the first time. My Yoké was right here, a couple feet away! An inevitable grin stole over my face, and I found myself running towards Yoké to hug him. I just wanted him in my arms. I just want him to hug me back tightly, for a long time. As I ran to him, I remembered how it felt to be in his embrace, I remembered his scent. Oh, his indescribable scent. That’s all I wished for right now. Him and only him.

I finally reached him, with my arms stretched out wide I was ready to receive him in mine. With my hands halfway around his neck, he held out his hands towards me, which stopped me from hugging him. It made me stagger back a little.

“Hey!” Finn said and made a move to catch me from falling. I didn’t fall. The impact wasn’t that great. Finn then stepped forward, hand on the butt of his gun from under his suit jacket. I extended a hand to stop him from intervening. He looked towards me. I shook my head once, a clear sign to step back. He did.

But Yoké… Did Yoké just stop me from hugging him? I looked up at him, he was not smiling. He had a frown across his face. His eyebrows touching like they normally did each time he frowned. But this frown was not the one he had on the first day we met, when he was trying to figure out which language I understood. There was a mixture of sadness, anger, hate, and hurt on his face. My smile faded into a confused frown.

“Yoké?”

“Where is my child?” He asked me, not breaking eye contact.

That question struck me like lightening, unexpected. I didn’t know what to say. I just stared back into his angry eyes. I couldn’t find the words to answer.

“I’m asking you,” he said through gritted teeth and then emphasized his next words by pausing after each word. “Where... is… my… child?”