Chapter 117 - May 20th, 2020 12:30 P.M.

For lunch, we had beef Stroganoff, an inferior version of it anyway. My Italian mother would have yelled at the cooks and asked them, “Chiamate questo manzo Stroganoff, stupidi incompetenti?!” She was a fantastic cook; I miss her so much sometimes…

“Food this bad should be illegal,” Angella said in disgust.

“My mom makes a superior version of it,” I replied with a small smile.

“I’d like some of that, please,” she said with a frown.

“I wish it was possible. Anyways, when do you guys get out?” I asked curiously.

“Well… I get out in like fifteen minutes,” Thomas said with a smile forming on the corners of his lips.

“And you didn’t tell us?!” Angella nearly yelled at him.

“Shhh, calm down, Angie,” Devon said in a soft tone, squeezing her hand.

“I didn’t know until right before lunch; I’m sorry,” he said with a sheepish smile.

“I-I, give me a hug, you geek,” she said emotionally, walking over to Thomas and hugging him tightly.

“I’ll miss you, Tommy,” she said, choking up.

“I’ll miss you too. Please be safe when you get out. I hope to never see you here again.”

“You won’t, I promise,” she said softly.

Hearing that he was leaving inspired me to stand up and give a farewell speech. It was highly theatrical, but I didn’t care too much.

“Thomas, I may not have known you for a long time, but the impact you have made on me has been immeasurable. I hope that wherever your life goes next, you will be happy and safe. You will always be on my mind. I promise to never forget you. Every night, I will remember the memories we had together and how, for just a moment, you made me forget that I was in hell. That is all,” I spoke passionately before sitting back down.

Everyone started clapping for my speech; I felt slightly embarrassed but still appreciated it.

“I have just one question for you, Clive,” Thomas said with the strangest grin on his face.

“Yeah?” I asked curiously.

“Have you heard of the high elves?”