Inside the state prison.

"Where is my mother?" I was holding everything inside me back, trying not to catalyze the situation. But my patience was slowly wearying off.

"Why aren't you letting me see her? Can someone please just bring my mother here?" I stood infront of a couple of prison guards who weren't providing me with any useful or meaningful information.

Restriction us from making any moves on regards to meeting my own mother.

"Miss! Can you lower your voice? This is a calm environment..." The guard began.

Calm? Calm? There's nothing peaceful about prison.

Enos quickly defended, his voice sensible and sure unlike my own. " How do you expect Elisabeth to remain calm? It's been over an hour and Brianna hasn't come out here despite the permit."

Another guard began spitting pointless reasons as to why we should leave and return a week later.

"Can I speak to someone else please?" I requested. "Where's the Sergeant? Lieutenant?"

I was starting to panic. "I want to see my mother. Bring her to us for goodness sake."

A really bad feeling was strongly growing inside.

I waved the permit on my hand. "Does this mean nothing to you people?" I tried lowering my voice a bit more.

The atmosphere was also growing thicker by the minute.

A younger guard began talking gibberish, stumbling on his own words.

"What sort of law enforcement is this?" Enos voiced. "There's no reason for restricting us from visiting the inmate."

Someone else walked into the room.

"The requested inmate isn't in the suitable, or in more accurate words 'comfortable enough' position of making an appearance." The Sergeant stepped forward. I remember him from the last time I came here about a year ago. "She simply can't show up."

He carried himself in a intimidating manner. The man's attire and whole demeanor was extremely overpowering.

"What's that suppose to mean?" I stared at him. "That she refused?"

I held my chest.

Enos quickly wrapped his arm around my shoulder.

"Brianna is under twenty four hour surveillance. She can neither be visited nor make any kind of appearance." He informed.

"What did she do?" I asked immediately.

I'm aware that my mother and trouble are seemingly related. But I really hoped she had changed or atleast done her best to avoid making anymore mistake.

The Sergeant gave me a twisted look. "The better question would be, what was done to her?" He rephrased.

My soul sunk.

"What happened to my mother?" I walked to the man heistly. Carrying my heart against my sleeves.

Panic coaxed in my voice. "Is she..."

I stammered.

"Elisabeth.." Enos came to stand beside me again, instantly holding my hand.

"Brianna is at the prison hospital." He stated. "A few of her fellow inmates found out about the release date and decided to cut her life short. Apparently, she owes some people here alot of stuff you see. And she has enemies who obviously don't wish her well."

What? I stood there shocked.

Cut her life short?

In such moments, my mind slips into a tunnel of pain.

"And what did you do about that?" I sounded so out of character. Angry, hurt and beyond frustrated. "Some people tried to kill my mother. They should be in court right now."

The Sergeant was talking as if it's something normal and...

I wanted to cry.

"It happens frequently in this place. Just know the culprits were transferred to a more strict facility in Texas. They won't be causing anymore trouble." He informed.

As if that can change anything.

"Why let it happen?" Enos pitched. "Aren't the cellmates usually under surveillance? The prison is built for that."

The Sergeant scoffed. "You'd find it difficult controlling everything in a prison full of ticking time bombs. This was expected actually. Brianna has always been fiesty. She had caused trouble in the past and I guess they weren't willing to let her get away with that."

I think am going to explode. So what is he trying to say? That the lunatics should get away with attempted murder?

"What's her current condition?" Enos asked on my behalf.

"Critical." The Sergeant said simply.

I faced him.

"Severe stab wounds on her belly, and injuries from being badly beaten up." He added. "A concussion and extreme blood loss. That is all I know."

A painful cry left my throat.

"I'll do you a favour Miss Wilson." The Sergeant said. "Let me call the doctor so you can pay Brianna a little visit. Happy now?"

Did he just say 'happy now'?

I remained silent.

Enos shifted uncomfortably next to me. He wasn't pleased by the Sergeant's choice of words. But Enos isn't repulsive. He always thinks before he speaks.

The Sergeant was obviously trying to provoke us.

"Can we go right now?" Enos did the talking. It was clear in his voice that he was very upset by the Sergeant's rude remarks but didn't want to prolong anything or cause trouble here.

Besides, seeing my mother is more important than engaging in heated arguments with people like these. And Enos seemed to be on the same page.

"Of course."

____________

The buttons of Elisabeth's jacket were tangled in her hair. She didn't care though. Even as I attempted to reach for the long strands, she flinched away from me.

We were in the doctor's office.

I knew Elisabeth was scared. But she wasn't telling me that.

Infact, Elisabeth was quiet and sad. She cried from the inside without a single tear shed. I've watched Elisabeth for long enough in the years to decipher the expressions on her face. When she is distressed, pained, confused and hurt. Those were her frequently displayed emotions. Nobody seemed to realise that by multiple glances but I could see it. I always have. Elisabeth is excellent at hiding her true feelings.

She isn't the most happy person. I hate seeing her that way. She deserves peace.

We waited for the doctor to give us report on Brianna's condition. We were told that she was critical and had gotten out of surgery about ten hours ago.

She hasn't woken up yet. That news has kept Elisabeth on edge.

I want to comfort her, so badly.

But she doesn't let me.

Ever since we stepped into this prison hospital, Elisabeth inches away from my embrace.

She doesn't want to be comforted by anyone and I don't understand why.

I know it has nothing to do with me but this isn't the first time Elisabeth has runaway from me. I can feel Betty detaching herself by the minute. Quite the contrary from our talk earlier on the way here.

Its selfish of me to be thinking about our detachment instead of worrying for her mother but I can't help myself.

Elisabeth is closer to me than ever. Atleast physically. There was a time she wouldn't let me get anywhere near her, but hours ago she let me hold her hands. We've been sharing a bed for three days now.

Can it get better than this?

The only thing keeping us together is the trouble I put us in.

I wish there was more I could do for her. And its easier if she can let me.

_____________