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Chapter 7: The Release
"14250, follow me" said the officer after what seemed forever since her last hearing.
As she followed the officer in and out of cell doors after doors, she was led into this long passageway with a lot of actual wooden doors - not the usual grills. There, a few others outside different doors than hers.
"Psst, Pink!" she heard someone whisper, she recognize that voice, but she couldn't make out where to look. She kept turning around until she saw a familiar face.
"eh, Duck!" Yes, the nicknames they all had for each other was just weird but made sense to them at that point. Somehow there understood each other's haphazard hand signs. She saw Duck went into the room. And soon after she too was called in.
"Okay, tomorrow is your last hearing, more or less judge have decided. It will only be finalized tomorrow. Please confirm if this is the list of your personal belonging, if you forget got pictures also. Please check. If correct, sign there." said the person behind the desk.
"You mean I might be released tomorrow?" Ifa asked nervously, unsure if she is allowed to even speak.
"I never ask you to speak uh. Just do what I told you. And yes, maybe. I don't know. Up to judge, judge can change their mind." She answered.
From the officer's look, Ifa could tell it was high chance that she would be released tomorrow. She was excited yet she couldn't show it to the others. After getting her signatures, the officer told her to wait outside again. She looked out for "Duck" again to asked what her outcome was. Duck was caught while clubbing, similar to her case, she was also caught with positive urine. Just that Duck knew what she was onto, and she was just worried about being sentenced as she had a young boy at home, who would be under her sister's care at the moment.
Duck showed 2 fingers and touched her ears. Ifa assumed it was a 2 years sentence, and then she saw Duck gestured what seemed like the letter C. Ifa just signaled back that she wasn't told of her outcome. Just then officers came to get them back to their respective cells. Upon returning to her cell, she passed the message from Duck to the rest. They were all happy for Duck, they calculated and said she might just be in for about 16months with good conduct. On the other hand, there were puzzled with Ifa's. How is it that Ifa wasn't clearly told of her sentence? Ifa herself could barely sleep that night.
Next morning came, and she was called out. The final hearing. Her sentence was read out. All she heard was, "will be on probation for 2 years starting today. She will be bound to her home address from 10pm to 7am daily. The officer in charge would be..."
She was free. She can go home. It was then she saw her parents, Jacob, and Mr Chew at the side giving the celebratory nod. She ran to hug Jacob the moment she walked out the door. Her parents stood there, tears in their eyes saying their gratitude to what Jacob had done despite not knowing them all that much. Jacob followed Ifa and her parents home that day. Her mother cooked all of her favourites. They spoke of all the experiences, and how it was like on both sides. She couldn't help but to have so many questions for Jacob.
"So, how much do I now owe you, Jacob? Why are you so keep to help me?" Of all the questions she had, these two were all she managed to blurt out.
"Nothing. I told you I would get this for you. You were so desperate that night. Back at mine, this would just be a slap on the wrist. Here it would destroy an otherwise bright future. I just felt the calling to help, money isn't an issue for me, I mean I had a few months here before I would need to go back, so why not?"
Jacob would be going back to his hometown, San Diego, next week. He offered to accompany her for the first meet with the probation officer but Ifa declined. Jacob had done way too much for her and she didn't want to owe him any more than what she had already accumulated. Yet, there he was the next day ready to take her to the appointment, he even set an appointment for a haircut.
"Cut it off, have a new look. New start, you know." was all Jacob said when she asked why.
Before she knew it, it was time for Jacob to bid goodbye, they promised to keep in touch. She wondered if Jacob was for real sometimes, it doesn't seem to make sense. And strangely before he left, he reminded her to file for her divorce.
//--- Please leave a comment if you want to read the next chapter. :)
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