Aran Parri Jora
The iron bed frame was not long enough to fit my long slender legs, I have been sleeping sideways with my shivering cold feet laying on the hard, uneven cemented ground. The cheap spring bed had tiny baby cockroaches, mostly with wings. Overgrown bed bugs were crawling around the ripped up foam and my back was itching all over, I looked up and noticed a hole, a few holes actually. I could hear a group of flies flying around, one of them flew down, I could tell it was half-dead, it could not fly normally. The critters were so distracting that I couldn’t sleep. My mind kept on spinning around old memories that would scare me. I heard that cockroaches like urinating near your eyes, and when it does get in your eyes, they would swell up and leave you with only vision in one eye.
Life behind the bars was stressful, especially when it is for something you did not do.
I was accused of being a hacker of the United State’s top secret government information. I was accused of leaking information from the Pentagon about the US economy and its relations in between countries and rivals. This has resulted in intimidating foreign investment offers and attacks. I certainly did not do this and am a loyal US citizen who wouldn’t do such a cruel thing, I swear I did not do it. With so many people pressuring me down and criticizing me with cruel messages and statements, even the guards serving me what is left of the other cell mates, I could not help but scream into my pillow. Wait, I don’t have a pillow…
At least my fellow bugs could entertain me. I actually know who the real person was. He was named “Portal” as he would change identity in such a quick manner without anyone knowing. He is such a complex person, always multiple steps ahead, no one could possibly trick him. Nothing could. His way of taking data is such an impressive process with exact sequence in each data taking.
He uses a plastic ball with three different switches and eight more different, small adjusters for activation and electricity current or flow control. Thirteen more sensors are attached with peculiar coding and different functions. A tiny metal ball with connectors and more sensors is suspended in the middle of the plastic ball. Five more metal balls are free to roll around with specific movements of Portal’s hands and steal data in a matter of seconds. It was truly fascinating to watch.
He was a nice man though, during my time with him. I couldn’t even phone him. He switches phone numbers every three hours. I know I’ll meet him again one day, somewhere, someday, some time in the future, but I don’t know when. For now, I’ll continue staring at flies coming out of my prison cell’s ceiling.