You grew up surrounded by old science fiction movies and advanced literature. your childhood was fild with smart, or as some would say, ‘nerdy’ things, because of your dad.

since you were a toddler, spencer was always teaching you something new. your whole childhood, you were nourished with learning.

so when he was arrested in Mexico for drug possession, you were shocked. that increased once he was charged with the murder of a doctor while he was there.

you couldn’t belive it. you knew it wasn’t true. how could the man who moved you to private school without a second thought when he found about your bullies, the man who taught you everything you know, the man who Grapes of Wrath as a bedtime story when you were 5, how could he have done something so heinous?

to avoid getting you put into foster care, your dad’s friend, JJ, took you in to live with her and her two sons. you mostly stay in your room with a pile of books, skipping school most days.

today is one of the days you get to visit him. you wake up at nine, pretend to eat your breakfast, and then JJ drives you to the prison. you get through security, and then at 10, you sat down and waited for him to come out.

you hear the buzzer, and you watch the inmates walk out. you catch sight of your dad. you notice that he’s lost weight. he looks tired. he has a black eye and bruises along his cheekbones.

he sits across from you and gives you a weak smile, an attempt to seem okay, put together. “hey.. how are you? JJ told me you won’t talk to anyone,”