Little Bird: Criminally Yours

Chapter 10

December 30th

Little bird,

I count down the days until I get to breathe fresh, uncontaminated air.

When my feet touch the concrete without the sound of metal clanking and my wrists are free.

I think about what it will feel like to be out of this wretched jumpsuit. How I long to wear a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt.

In just a few months, you’ve reminded me that I do, in fact, have a purpose. You’ve given me something to look forward to each week and a happiness that I never thought I’d feel again.

I wish more than anything you didn’t have to be alone tonight. I long to hold you, touch your skin, smell your perfume. I hate that your family leaves you. I hate that we’re both alone and so far away from each other.

But I don’t wish to change the past. If I wasn’t here, we’d never have met, and although we still have a few more months to go, I am excited to start a new journey with you at my side.

I hate New Year’s resolutions. The whole ideology of it irritates me. Especially those people who claim to start working out as their resolution. We all know if they really wanted to work out, they would have months ago.

Growing up, my resolutions were always the same. I longed to be adopted, and every year, I swore to myself I’d be better.

I’d smile brighter for my picture, I’d behave better, I’d be the perfect kid, and someone would want me.

And each year when no one wanted me, a piece of my heart, of my soul, shattered in oblivion.

I vowed never to make another one of those horrendous resolutions, but then you had to come along. You had to come in like a wrecking ball, and here I am breaking another rule. For you.

This year, I will meet you, and I will spend as many holidays as I can with you, little bird. We can be free together, to soar the skies and explore the world without a chain tugging us back.

Do you want that, too?

Am I crazy?

I arranged with my lawyer to have a phone call with you. He’s going to reach out to you and coordinate a call. Only if you want.

If you only want to keep writing, then I’ll be perfectly content with that.

Eight more months, little bird, and then I’ll be free.

Happy New Year. Enjoy your last one alone because the rest are mine.

Your only pen pal,

East