Page 75 of Birdy

“I’m well aware of your schedule, Villanueva,” he snaps at me, “but B Block is currently undergoing a sweep, and all of you need to pick up your belongings before you wrap up your workday.”

And there it is—the proverbial drop of the shoe I’ve been waiting for.

If it weren’t for Delfino and his beady amber eyes watching me like a hawk, I’d be puking my brains out right about now. My stomach is in one giant knot, and my heart is shattering into a million pieces as reality crashes down on me. They’re...sweeping. They’re sweeping our cells, where I have the phone tucked away inside the metal post of the bunk.

This is it.

I’m definitely going down...and Koko didn’t even have to snitch. I’m sure she did, but this is how they’re going to get me. It’s physical proof, and while Lena may love me, she’s one hundred percent not going to take the fall for me as my cellmate. I wouldn’t expect her to—wouldn’t want her to. She’s got enough time left to serve as it is for me to lie through my teeth, shove a knife in her back, and tell them it’s not mine just to potentially save my ass if Koko’s story never checks out.

My legs feel like jelly as I follow behind Mari and the girls into the line. We don’t line up alphabetically as per usual, just kinda float from the laundry room in a static order to the block as Delfino trails behind us. White-hot tears burn the back of my eyes, but I manage to keep them at bay for now. All I can think to myself—aside from the fact that I’m stupid as hell on multiple accounts—is that I’m so glad I didn’t tell Noely about early release. She and Ma would be so disappointed in me—and they’d have every right to be.

When we arrive at the block just a few minutes later, it’s pure and utter chaos. I don’t even have a moment to adjust or brace for impact; we’re just thrown in there like slabs of meat in a lion’s den. All the girls who had the day off are glued to the walls outside of their cells as the CO’s toss their shit around. I’d say I’m curious as to what they're looking for, but given the current circumstances, I already know it’s whatever drugs Ryker was bringing in.

Mari doesn’t know about the phone, but she flashes me an anxious look as she ambles away to her cell.

“It’s gonna be okay,” I mouth back, striding to my own cell with those damn tears burning the back of my eyes anew.

It’s not. It’s not going to be okay at all, but at least I’ll still have Mari and Lena to get me through the days when they extend my time. And that’s even if they decide to do that, which would be the kinder option, for lack of a better word. With possible deportation still hanging over my head, they may decide to just ship my ass back to Cuba rather than have me here any longer.

And trust me when I say that would be hell.

Don’t get me wrong. I miss my family back there, and I’d love to see them again. I still remember so much of it and have great childhood memories, despite living in poverty, but my country isn’t what it used to be, especially in this day and age.

Not to mention, I’d never be able to come back. I’d never see Noely again, would never be able to visit Ma at her...at her grave. The harrowing thought threatens to unleash the floodgates yet again, but I hold them back harder than ever. Showing any sort of emotion in this situation will only result in me incriminating myself. Later though, I’ll end up breaking down on Lena since it’s more than likely I won’t be able to talk to Andrés anymore once they find the—

Wait. WhereisLena? She was supposed to be off today, and she’s not by our cell as I approach—a fact that makes my heart race ten times faster than it already is. Flattening my back against the wall, I scope out the cellblock, searching for anyone who might hint to where the hell Lena is. But no one dares to look at me. It’s like they’re all purposely avoiding me—their eyes either straight ahead or downcast to the floor.

Whatthe fuckis happening right now?

That’s a question I wouldn’t have to wait much longer for an answer.

It can’t be more than five minutes before Andrés comes out with a plastic bag in hand. The only thing inside is the phone. I nearly stop breathing at the severe look on his face, and it’s not even the harsh lines that get me. It’s the devastated look in his eyes.

No, I do stop breathing. I’m sure of it. My exterior may come off as unaffected, but I’m choking on the inside—just like I did that day in the courthouse, my mom’s sobs echoing in the background.

“Mack,” is all he mouths at me, and then he takes off, stalling just a few steps away and calling from over his shoulder, “Make sure you clean up Reynoso’s belongings, too, Villanueva. She’ll be gone for a while.”

See? I told you—not okay at all.

Mack probably found the phone and took Lena, leaving Andrés to deal with the rest of the sweep while he shoves her in the hole. There’s no question that’s where he’s taking her. What’s surprising is he would actually assume it’s hers and not write it off as mine from the get-go. Dude has it in for me, so why pin it on her?

I throw a watery glance at Gia a few cells over on my right. She was off today, too, which means she saw the whole thing go down. “Did Mack take Lena?” I mouth.

Gia nods just once, her lips pressed together.

Fuck.

This is just as bad as me going down. Mood swings and all, she’s like my sister. I would never betray her.

Just like I would never betray Andrés.

Andrés who’s staring at me from across the room where he and the other CO’s are laying out all the contraband they found during this sweep. I gave him my word, told him that if anything ever happened, they wouldn’t know it was him who brought me what they found.

And I always keep my word.

Like I told him in that note—I’m not a snitch, even when my freedom hangs in the very delicate balance.

?The Night We Met - Lord Huron

---