The Last Honest Look
Sara walked down the dark hall, doors shutting and locking behind her. Tears filled her eyes and she struggled to hold them back as she walked past the other cells. She wanted to appear strong but knew she did not belong here. The judge had said a few months would help 'straighten her out' and unfortunately her parents had agreed.
Who knew that the partying and drug taking would come to this. Sara considered herself a typical eighteen year-old. A bit wild and rough around the edges but never in her wildest nightmares did she believe her delinquencies would bring here. Getting high and stealing a car with no license may not have been her finest hour, but it's not like she killed anybody.
Walking through C block Sara was cautious to keep her eyes on the floor. She was sure there would be many people in here who would spot her 5ft2 frame and see her as an easy target. Her plan was to lay low for three months, then get out of this place alive.
The guard alerted Sara to the fact they had reached her cell. She looked in, raising her eyes for the first time in what seemed like hours. In front of her was a tiny room with a toilet, a sink and bunk beds. Her cellmate was lying down in the top bunk with her back to Sara. 'Tegan, this is your new cellmate Sara. Be nice to her – we don't want any more trouble in here'.
The guard turned and left, Sara was worried 'any more trouble' implied previous trouble. Who exactly was this new roommate and what had happened before? The stranger she would be sharing close quarters and vulnerable with turned and Sara got her first glance of a tattooed girl, a similar age and size to her with a labret piercing. It was in fact her piercing eyes that really caught Sara's attention however.
'Hey, I'm Tegan – I really hope you don't snore' were the first words Tegan uttered to Sara. 'Um, yeah, hi, I'm Sara and I don't think I snore – that's usually a second date kind of question', Sara turned away uncomfortable with the lame attempt at a joke she made and Tegan just smiled. 'Well, we skipped usual protocol and are already living together so I guess we're already at the third date at least'. Sara laughed thankful that Tegan was attempting to make her feel a bit more comfortable.
'So Sara, I'm not going to ask what you're in for, but I will ask how long you're going to be around for'. Sara looked up to Tegan's bunk and decided to be honest 'I'm in for DUI, driving without a license, driving without insurance and reckless endangerment, although my lawyer is contesting the last one. I'm in for three months minimum but depending on appeals it's likely to be longer. How about you?' Tegan bit her bottom lip, taking in the information she had just received and deciding whether to respond with similar honesty. 'Well, you'll learn very quickly we are all innocent in here! But if you really want to know I'm in for a year for robbery, but it's a very long story.'
Sara was a little less scared, if she was only in for a year, she can't have killed anyone in the robbery so at least that was something. Tegan looked back at Sara, gauging her reaction 'so now we have our rap sheep's out in the open, we get the next hour out of the cells for lunch and rec time – want me to show you around?' 'Sounds great – thanks Tegan'. As Tegan jumped down from her bunk, Sara noticed the way her prison uniform bunched up and showed her stomach, and well defined abs. A small smile passed by Sara's lips – maybe this won't be so bad after all.