My black flats clacked against the gray linoleum. It's been six years since that incident with the cabin. Six long, painful years with no Paul Broker to keep me company.
I follow the guard towards a room in The United States Penitentiary Administration Maximum Facility (ADX) in Fremont County, Colorado.
The prison is only for male inmates who committed the worst of the crimes: multiple murders (premeditated), rapist who are murderers, terrorists, drug leaders, etc. The ADX building is a low story made of dark red brick with a steel-white roofing; it's located in the mountains (in the middle of no-freaking-where) and holds 927 inmates (not that large compared to the overcrowded prisons spaced out around the U.S.).
A 12 foot-tall Barbed wire fence, with actual watch towers guard the perimeters. Guards walked around armed with guns, wearing serious don't-fuck-with-me facial expressions, walking a tight, controlled walk.
There are cameras and motion detectors everywhere. I can feel their eyes watching my every move, just daring me to try anything. I try not to cringe and look away from the cameras quickly, hastening my steps.
Technically, there is no visiting center in this prison. No loved ones are allowed to see husbands, sons, uncles, no one. Each message from the outside world is delivered by correction officers. I shuddered, thinking of Paul alone in his 7ft by 12ft cell made of concrete, with only a hard bed, toilet, four inch window, stool and desk to keep him company.
The only reason that I'm actually here is thanks to Dad. He has people in some very high places, and I also told him how he owed me one for saving those government files.
I still remembered the long talk that I had with my father. He spilled everything: how he got the files and why. His friend, Tex Walker, worked as a top secret scientist in an underground facility (like with Area 51) and was afraid some spies were after his work. So, instead of destroying the evidence or making copies, he did the stupidest thing he could possibly do: He asked my father to bury the evidence, bury it anywhere. The spies never would have been after Dad because Tex Walker was known as a loner. Yet, somehow the Broker Brothers found out or maybe Dad spilled the information while having a beer with his friends. Either way, I'll never know how the government files got lost. Dad stated that he owed aged a favor, he told me that he was loaned quite a bit of money from him so him and my mom could buy their first house and Dad could find a stable job. When I asked him why he never told me about his "friend", he just said he completely forgot. How could someone forget they had government files is beyond me. And look where that got him.
I shook my head to get rid of those memories and caught up to the guard who looked behind him with a disapproving look etched on his face. Everyone knew who I was here to see, even the prisoners.
Paul shouldn't be here, he's too good, too nice to be locked up with the worst of the worst. He should be outside enjoying what the world has to offer with me. We could have done so much things together if he never got unjustly arrested (buying an apartment, getting jobs, cooking dinner, going on dates, get married). But no, none of that happened. I don't know if it will ever be possible for Paul to ever escape these four walls but I pray that he will. I just have to try hard enough, plead for a bail, try to convince anyone that it wasn't his fault.
"This way, miss. And please don't look at or speak to anyone." The guard said firmly over his shoulder. Every Time I came here, they always said that. And I always can't help myself: I break the rule. I desperately need to see what Paul's been living like for the past six years. Although, I feel like I know every inch of this place by now. I wrap my dark navy coat around my light blue blouse and dark pants tighter, shivering. It's so cold in here. How could anyone stand it?
The guard escorts me to same room, it looks like on those interrogation rooms on a cop or CSI TV show. There's two steel chairs and a table, concrete floor (the prison must have gotten a great price on concrete, maybe there was a sale), and four guards armed with rifles (two at each opposite ends of the room). At the far end of the table, seated, handcuffed to the chair and table, is Paul. My heart melts every time that I see him. His long hair is gone, shaved off when he entered this hell hole, his blue lip and eyebrow piercings are gone too. His eyes have a new gleam about them, he's tougher, more suspicious than before. He's gained some more muscles, but it's hard to tell over his gray uniform. He has a beard now, which is sexy.
My chair scrapes against the floor, I winced. I look up and stare into his eyes. Even though on the outside Paul may have changed; I know he's still the same person on the inside. Still my lovable, selfless, kind Paul. His dark blue eyes lighten when they see me, it makes tears burn at the back of my eyes; I have to blink furiously to stop them from falling.
"Hey." I said softly. I give him a small smile and reach my hand over to put over his. He leans forward, desperate to touch me. A guard's hand snakes out and grabs him roughly by the shoulder, practically throwing him back in his chair, making his chains rattle. I gasp and make a move to jump up and rush over to see if he is okay.
"Don't move miss." A cold voice, informs me. I freeze in place and felt a hand gently guide me back down in my chair. "Don't touch the prisoner, he could snap at any minute."
And just like that my blood goes from freezing to scalding hot within seconds. I want to snap at the guard, to scream at him what he knows nothing about Paul Broker. How he's not the person that everyone thinks he is. But I know that will get me nowhere, besides I would be wasting precious time with Paul.
I slumped my shoulders, but not before giving the guard my best death glare and gazed up at him again. He was watching me carefully yet there was a rueful smile on his face. Paul straightens in his chair. "So, how have you been Sammy? Anything new happen at your jobs?" He asked nonchalantly.
Despite my bitter attitude a moment ago, I can't help but feel a big smile cross my face. I work at as a English teacher full time and a coffee shop part time. "Oh Paul, it's fantastic! I love my job so much. I have so much to tell you." I gush. "I am fine. But oh my god, I never knew how many kids don't know what books are considered classics. It's a real shame." I shake my head. "Like how could someone not know who William Golding or Agatha Christie is? I mean how sheltered are kids nowadays?" Paul just gazes at me with such love, I though my soul could break. God, what did I do to deserve such a lucky man in my life. I have been visiting him every two weeks these past six years. I still get excited like a high school girl first going out on a date with her long time crush the day before I see him. "Yet, there was a really good looking man who hit on me at the coffee shop." I said husky.
My words have their initial reaction from Paul. His face darkens, his dark blue eyes, so much like deep sea water, narrow and glare at me. "Who is this man? What's his name? What does he look like?" His hands clenched into fist as he hissed out the questions. "So help me Sammy, if he laid a hand on you or so much as said something that made you uncomfortable; I don't care if I'm in here or in hell, I will come after that man."
I chuckle at his reaction. "Oh, he didn't say anything too badly. He just wanted to know if I was single, which of course I told him no; I am taken after all." I batted my eyelashes a few times. Paul licks his lips, a predatory smile flashes across his face. "When I told him that, he still slipped me his number. Which I threw in the trash when he left."
"Damn right, you're taken! You're mine! Now then, what did he look like Sam? What's his name?"
"I know that I'm yours Paul. I knew that ever since I first saw you at the cabin, that day so long ago." I whispered, putting as much love and strength into my voice as I can. "I love only you and nobody else nobody can compare to you Paul. No matter how many handsome men chase after me, I will only have eyes for you."
