I think Nathan is an interesting character and decided to write a little POV.

*

Nathan doesn't get much sleep.

The cell is cramped and hot, and it smells. His bed is lumpy and he can always feel the springs pressing into his back through the mattress when he lies down.

Since he doesn't sleep, he thinks. It's really the only thing he's free to do without asking for permission. He thinks about everything.

He thinks about his aunt and uncle. Henry has never come to see him. Sam says it's because he's busy with work. He's working extra hours at Pryor's store and gets home late. There's just no time, but he would visit if he could.

Nathan doesn't believe that, not for a minute. Uncle Henry isn't too tired to come, he's ashamed. He's embarrassed and angry, and feels like a failure for not straightening him out.

His aunt visits when she can. She doesn't say much, she mostly just sits and tries her best to create small talk. He knows that being there bothers her and she probably is embarrassed too, but at least she makes the effort.

Sam always comes in with some story trying to make him feel better. He talks about the kids at school, what he hears on the radio. Sometimes he mentions Meg, and Nathan lets it slide without question. He knows that Sam has it bad for that Pryor girl, he can tell. Ever since the day of the riot, when he huddled in front of her protectively and put on that scene like he was some hot shot in front of Nathan's friends. He saw that jerk cop drag away the girl, who was screaming to stay with Sam. Yeah, he lets it slide because if he does maybe Sam will forget all about her. If he doesn't forget her, he's headed for more trouble than he can imagine. He hopes Sam is smarter than that.

Angela can't visit but she writes him letters. Sam brings them and they always tell about school and television shows, and music. He keeps them all folded underneath his mattress.

He knows when he gets out things are going to be harder. People are going to look at him with worse glares than before. They'll probably cling to the opposite side of the sidewalk when he passes them. He almost wishes he could stay here, even if he can't sleep at night.

He has a job, doing laundry, it isn't so bad. It's a chance to get out of the cell and move around, it's as close to freedom as he can get. At least for another three weeks, then he gets out. Back to the real world, to everything he was trying so hard to get away from.

It's funny how much he's missed it.