I cringe every time I see Jono’s elbow as he leans onto the table with his arm. He is double jointed and his arm bends in the weirdest way, it is truely frightful. I should be used to it, as that’s how my elbow bends too, it’s genetic, it runs in the family. We all have a weirdly bendy elbow that creeps people out when we lean onto something. It was strange to see my cell mate Jono have the same kind of elbow.

My bed gave out a wry creak as I slowly woke up when I felt pressure on my neck in the middle of the night. I opened my eyes as I let out a choking sound and I tried to push away the person that was crushing my windpipe with their knee. I stammered;

“J, Jono..stop..”

It was Jono, my new cellmate and he had kneeled onto my windpipe as he sat on top of me on my bunk. I tried to push him away. He growled.

“Don’t move or I’ll snap your neck like a f*ckin twig.”

I froze. I gasped as my eyes watered. I managed to nod a bit and the pressure on my neck eased off.

I gasped to get some air as I stammered;

“W..why?”

“Been here for a good 10 years have you?”

I gave a little nod.

“Been sent here for some major assault charges have you?”

Again, I gave a little nod.

“Stabbed your little girlfriend for cheating on you, have you?

I closed my eyes. I wasn’t proud of what I had done. I felt remorseful every day.

“Y.. yes..”

“Well, Uncle Jono has been keeping an eye out for little Dean.. Caitlyn’s son. To make sure he doesn’t miss out in life.”

“U, uncle Jono..?”

“Yeah. He’s been paying for little Dean’s school fees and books and football lessons and stuff.”

This story seemed terribly familiar.

“I… read all this.. in a letter…”

Jono smirked.

“Yeah. Surprise.”

Jono was whom I’d been writing to for the past 3 years.