“I can’t believe my baby is leaving me,” Carissa said, cupping my face.
I gave her a teary smile. We were in my cell while I packed up my things. My release was only an hour away, and I still couldn’t believe that I was leaving these walls behind. While I wouldn’t miss this place, I was truly going to miss Carissa. For ten years, she was the only mother figure I had in here. She treated me just like a daughter, and for that, I would always have love for her.
“I’m gonna miss you so much.”
“I’m gonna miss you, too, Riss. Thank you for all you’ve done for me the last ten years. I’ll never forget you.”
“I know you won’t. Promise me, you won’t come back here, baby. You survived, but you don’t belong here. Promise me you’re gonna do something with your life. I want you to be happy. Go find you a man and let him love you and give you a shitload of babies.”
I giggled as she swiped my tears. “I promise.”
She kissed my forehead and pulled me in for a warm, motherly hug. “I love you, Alayah. I mean that.”
“I love you, too.”
Our embrace lasted for a while before we parted ways, and she grabbed my hand.
“Come on. The ladies are waiting to celebrate with you.”
She pulled me out of my cell, and I immediately teared up at the sight. The ladies had decorated a table just for me. There was food, drinks, and gifts. Music was being played. Somebody had even made a little cake. They clapped and smiled as we approached them.
“You guys didn’t have to do this,” I said as I made my rounds hugging each of them.
One woman, affectionately known as Juicy, waved me off.
“Of course we did. It’s not every day our lil’ baby gets parole. We’re gonna miss you around here, boo. Not the screaming in the middle of the night, but we’ll miss you.”
“Definitely not the screaming,” Luna agreed. “Who’s gonna do my hair now? I’m gonna be back to looking like a damn bird.”
I giggled. “Luna, I showed you how to take care of your hair.”
“Yeah, but it’s better when you do it.”
I shook my head as the rest of the ladies nodded in agreement.
“Open your gifts,” Juicy urged.
Carissa ushered me into a seat. I looked around at the gifts all wrapped in newspaper. I didn’t know what to open first. Closing my eyes, I randomly picked one. When I opened it, I found handmade little paper roses and a vase made out of a toilet paper roll and pebbles. The second gift was a handmade purse fashioned out of chip bags. I already knew that came from Luna. She’d made them for several of the ladies on the block. There were a few hand-drawn cards and pictures and a journal.
My heart was overjoyed at the love they showed me.
“Thank you all so much,” I whispered, fighting back tears.
“You get out of here and make us proud,” Juicy said.
All I could do was nod as Carissa massaged my shoulders. They allowed me to have a moment before Luna turned up the radio.
“Alright. Enough of this sad shit. Today is a happy day. We’re gonna eat good and party a little before you say goodbye. Get your pretty ass up, mama.”
I giggled as she pulled me from my seat and started dancing with me. Time seemed to fly by after that. We ate and had a good time, and before I knew it, CO Judy was calling my name.
“Chambers! Let’s go! You’re outta here!”
I hugged the girls again before gathering my gifts and taking them to my cell to place them with my other things. With my box in my hand, I made my way to the door where CO Judy was waiting. With one last look back, I offered the girls a tearful smile before I left them forever. The entire way to the front and through the check-out process, my heart raced. This was it. It was really happening.
I was going home.
The walk to the gate seemed to be the longest of my life. The rays from the sun warmed my face. The air was cool and fresh. The sounds of nature seemed to amplify outside of the barbed-wire fences. Everything was so beautiful now that I could take it in from the other side.
