Solae
Visitation days were one of the many things that kept me going.
I was up before sunrise, ready like it was a date.
My khakis were pressed, my white tee was spotless, and my hair was slicked into a low ponytail.
By the time they called my name, my stomach was already flipping like I hadn’t just seen my kids.
The moment I stepped into the visiting room, I saw those two flashes of energy that belonged to me.
“Mama!” Elijah yelled. As he took off across the floor, his shoes squeaked against the tile. Essence followed, curls bouncing with a big smile.
I dropped to my knees just in time for both of them to crash into me. I kissed their faces, breathing them in. “Look at y’all! Elijah, you taller than me now!”
I was just teasing. He hadn’t grown that fast, but it made him smile ear-to-ear like I’d intended. “Nah, not yet. But by the time you get out, I might be!”
Essence rolled her eyes. “Boy, you’re the shortest fifth grader in your class.”
I laughed, kissing the tops of their heads. “Y’all miss me?”
Essence smirked. “Of course, but Grandpa said I can’t tell you that every time I see you.”
When they finally let me stand, I saw Priest by the vending machines, feeding in a few dollars. He caught my eye, winked, and gave me that sexy grin that made me weak, even in this dreary place.
He came over carrying a tray stacked with chips, sodas, and a microwaved cheeseburger from the machine. “Lunch is served, shorty,” he said, setting everything down like it was fine dining.
“Hey,” I said softly, leaning in for our hug and quick peck that was allowed.
“Hey yourself.”
We stood there, just staring at each other like it had been months instead of days since we’d laid eyes on each other. Seeing him wasn’t the same as feeling him, though, and the rules and walls between us only made the passion between us burn hotter.
“You better sit down before I can’t control myself,” he nearly growled, making my pussy throb.
Swallowing hard, I sat down and began to eat, ogling my kids. “Y’all look so happy.”
Essence blushed a little. “We are. We miss you, though.”
“I miss y’all too. And I’m proud of both of you.”
Priest leaned closer and took my hand. “You good?”
I smiled. “You know I’m okay. You made sure of that.”
Priest had everybody in here treating me like I wasn’t just another inmate.
He knew some of the COs from back home, and the ones he didn’t know, he made sure respected me.
They looked out, let me stay late on calls, snuck me food from the outside, and even let me use their phones late at night when Priest would call.
Those late-night whispers often turned into some freaky phone sex that made me forget I was locked up.
Because of him, prison didn’t feel like punishment. The only thing that reminded me I wasn’t free was the fact that I couldn’t walk out with them when this visit ended.
“You gettin’ thicker, shorty,” Priest flirted. “Prison food treatin’ you too good.”
I laughed and swatted at him. “Stop it.”
He shrugged, with that seductive stare still locked one me. “What? I’m just sayin’. That ass got phatter.”
I felt the heat rush up my neck, and I had to look away. “Stop lookin’ at me like that.”
“Like what?” he asked, leaning in just slightly.
“Like you forget where we at.”
Essence frowned dramatically. “Ewe, stop.”
Elijah rolled his eyes. “They always flirt. It’s gross.”
Priest put his hands up, laughing. “What else I’m supposed to do? Y’all won’t let me come see her by myself.”
My head tilted dramatically at that lie. “You insist on bringing them on every visit.”
Priest shrugged guiltily.
“Mama, Priest said he gonna teach me how to drive!”
Priest’s eyes ballooned. “Snitch. You wasn’t supposed to tell her.”
My eyes chastised him before I did. “Priest, she’s only thirteen.”
He shrugged. “Ain’t never too early to teach responsibility.”
Elijah snorted. “He just want her to drive him around.”
“Exactly,” Priest replied, laughing. “She gon’ be my little chauffeur.”
For the next hour, life felt normal. We laughed.
The kids teased Priest about snoring when he napped at my parents’ house.
He teased them about who was more spoiled.
They talked over each other about school, new shoes Priest bought them, about their cousin’s birthday party last weekend.
Elijah showed off a folded-up paper certificate from basketball practice, and Essence talked about how she planned to be a cheerleader next year.
I just kept looking at the clock, wanting it to slow down, to stay right there in that moment where my world was whole again.