Eve

Cambodia was a place that grew on me quickly. I know that I was here temporarily to get Callie back, but I liked the slower pace and the people were nice. It was a far cry from my first couple of weeks here and the impression that I got.

Callie was calming down a bit, though I know that she was going through a different kind of hell in there. It seemed like her knowing that I was here and not leaving without her seemed to make her feel better. I hope it did anyways. It made me feel better about her being in there. I wanted to make a difference.

The hotel I had been staying in was quickly becoming a problem. Too many people recognized the hotel and me from the paper and curiosity got the best of them. I don’t know why I was so interesting to them, but I was taller than most and I stood out because of my white skin. No amount of tan was going to change that.

It meant that I had to move hotels and this time I didn’t get one with air conditioning. I was already wishing that I hadn’t changed that, but after a few days I was starting to get used to the feeling of being steamed all day.

After a week, I’d figured out one thing. I could get Callie out, but I was going to have to raise some funds to do it. Her conviction was boasted and now if she slipped out, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. She had gotten what was coming to her as far as the public thought, so that meant I just had to come up with the cash.

It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. I was halfway there, but I was running out of ways to get money. I was about to do a round through my family and hers, though neither one of us had a rich uncle that would have been rather helpful right about now. Her brother might have some cash, but I doubted he would have enough.

I was on my way to the jail. After a couple of days, they let me come and go longer and out of the normal visiting times. I don’t know why, but the guards were much nicer now that I wasn’t a prisoner, though I still remember a few of them rather vividly and I wished that I didn’t.

Callie was waiting for me and she had a smile on her face which I was happy to see. I brought her the coffee that I’d bought on the way, as well as some sweet breads that she liked.

“I’m glad to see you Eve.”

She looked like she’d had a good night and I asked her how it was.

“I don’t know. I guess I’m getting used to the heat. I feel like I’m in an oven most of the time and we’re just so jammed into this place. There is no air, no windows, no fans. I finally got to sleep this morning, but it was hot again before I could get a few good hours. I will never underestimate air conditioning again.”

“Me either.”

I was thinking about the hotel, but at least there was a window to open and get a slight breeze from. It wasn’t much, but it was something. I could always go run a cool shower if it got too bad. Callie didn’t have any of them choices to make.

“These are so good.”

She was talking about the sweet breads. I didn’t care for them, but I did like the coffee that I’d found. It wasn’t like normal coffee I was used to with lots of cream and sugar, but it grew on me much like everything else in this place had done.

“You seem to be in a really good mood today. It even looks like they let you have a shower.”

That was a surprise since we were in here for longer than a week and one wasn’t even mentioned. It was more of a privilege that was used to keep the inmates in line.

“Well things are better here I guess. I’ve met some nice people and I’m starting to learn the language. One of the guards has been real nice to me. He…”

“Wait, he?” It was all starting to make sense and I couldn’t believe the smile that came over her face. Was she seriously dating one of the guards? It sure the hell looked like it from the way she was blushing. I was shocked, genuinely shocked by the way she was acting, but if I was honest I was relieved in a way.

If Callie was seeing a guard romantically, it meant that she would get better treatment and that made me feel better to think that she was. The place was hell, so anything to make it a little better would be something that was advisable. If she had someone on the inside to look out for her, it was just going to help me sleep a little better at night at the very least.

“So, who is it? Is it someone that I met when I was here?”

“I don’t think so. Qing works in a different part. I was transferred somewhere else when trial was up. I don’t go to the same place that we were held in. It’s a little better on this side.”

“Good, I’m glad. I’ve been so worried about you Callie. I’m still going to worry, but it makes me feel better to think that someone is here looking out for you. Do you like him for real or?” I didn’t know how to ask the question that was on my mind. I wanted to know if this was because she was trying to get protection, or had she really found love in such a strange place. I liked to think that it was the latter.

She confirmed it with another smile as she looked down. “I really like him. I know it hasn’t been long, but when you meet someone, and you just know. That’s how I feel. I feel like those movies say your supposed to. It’s super weird, isn’t it?”

I would have agreed that it was, but it didn’t matter. This was a rough thing to go through and anything to make it better was just that, better.

“Not really. If he is nice to you and treats you well, what more is there?”

“Well it would help if I wasn’t locked up and he wasn’t the one with the key.”

I giggled with her. “So, is he cute?”

She nodded that he was. “And he is very generous when it comes to making sure that I’m taken care of. I think I’ve been having the best sex of my life and I’m in jail. That doesn’t sound right, does it?”

I shrugged. “Whose counting?”

“No one I guess. How is it going on your end?”

“I’m halfway there in less than a week. It won’t be long Callie. I just need to raise a bit more. I’m about to hit the family up next. There is also a couple of programs back home that I’ve been looking into. The WIFI is better at this new hotel, so at least that’s a bonus.”

“That quick huh?”

Why did she say it like she wasn’t sure that it was going to be enough time? Like she wasn’t happy about the idea that I could have her out in a week or two?

“Yeah that quick. I figured that you would be happy about it.”

“I am, it’s just. I don’t know. Qing and I have really been hitting it off.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. What kind of spell had he put on her? He must have given her some great sex to make her talk this way.

“Well if you want to stay with him, get out and be with him in a regular way.”

She smiled, like she hadn’t thought of that and I had to shake my head in amazement. Callie was always running headlong into the unknown abyss and this was just another example of it. How well could they really know each other? But I was learning that how you felt about someone didn’t always make sense. How I felt about Stan was still a mystery to me.

“You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking. I do want to get out, sleep on a real bed, but would you be so bummed if I stayed a bit longer?”

“Not at all Callie. I just want you to be out of here first.”

She agreed and we both talked about her new love. It was happening so fast, but the happiness was written all over her face and there was no way that it wasn’t visible when I looked at her. She was practically beaming.

The guard told us that we had to cut it short today. There were some officials coming in and they wanted everything to be going as it was written. I wasn’t supposed to be there, so I had to go.

“I will see you in the morning, okay? Any requests?”

“Find me hot chocolate or just chocolate of any kind. I think I’m about to start.”

“Got it. I will see you in the morning Callie. Don’t have too much fun in here.”

She laughed, and I just shook my head. Who would have thought that I would say that to her, about a place like this? It just didn’t make any sense.

Walking out of the jail, I decided that it was time to call my brother and see if I could hit him up for a loan. I’d exhausted my savings already, but he knew that I was good for it.

“Hey bro.”

“Damn Eve, I have been worried about you.”

“Don’t be. I told you I would be fine.’

“You haven’t answered your phone.”

“I had to get a new one. You wouldn’t not believe the roaming charges that they were trying to charge. There is no way I was going to keep paying it, so I switched carriers while I am here. Its not too bad. It actually flips.”

He didn’t find it funny and I could tell he was worried.

“Stan is already on his way over there. We thought you’d done something stupid and you were back in jail.”

I groaned inwardly. They must really think I’m an idiot. I won’t say that I hadn’t thought about it, but it was fleeting, and I knew there had to be a better way.

“What in the world did you send him back here for?”

“I didn’t. He offered.”

Even better.