Another day, another breakfast. If that's what you could call it. The "oatmeal" was slightly grey and mostly lumpy. Maya pushed it around and avoided Taystee's expectant eyes. She had been the second person to ask why Maya never had a phone call or a visitor.

"And don't shrug those scrawny little shoulders at me. I ask you a question and I deserve an answer. Tough love." Maya almost smiled and finally braved eye contact.

"I never told my family what happened, so I don't know if they know I'm here. My best friend Bea..." Maya took a deep breath and shook herself lightly, willing away the bad thoughts, "Bea died, and that's kind of why I'm here." The woman seated at the far end of the table with eyes wide as saucers directed the orbs at Maya in an instant. Maya ignored the mildly concerning stare. "And my other fr-... well I just don't think there's anyone else worth calling."

Taystee's voice caught in her throat before she got a word out, her mouth hung open, and she stared back at Maya. She moved her lips several times to speak, each time stopping herself. Finally, she spoke. "You didn't ever tell your family where you were? You gotta call your mama, girl." Maya bit her lip.

"They'll be... I just don't want to upset them."

"They're sure as shit gonna be a lot more upset if they think you off dead somewhere!" Taystee raised her voice. "You gotta let 'em know!" Maya nodded.

"How do I do that?"

...

Of course another visit to Mr. Healy's was in order. Maya kept it short and didn't reply to any of his attempts to reach out to her. She knew he meant well, but he and his little figurines still gave her the chills. He gave her a form to fill out adding whoever she'd like to her call list. She listed her parent's home and cell numbers, as well as her younger brother Marshall's cell. That was all she wanted, all she needed.

Healy took sympathy on her and told her to go straight to the phones with a note from him. She should call immediately. While she was there he also had her fill out a visitor list and told her she could begin having visitors the following Friday. It took almost a week to process that paperwork, he was sorry he couldn't help more. With a tight, polite smile, she slid out of the office.

The walk to the phones felt ominous. Her heart beat so hard against her chest that she could almost hear it. She got in line, about five fellow inmates waiting before her. Three times she got out of line and walked a few feet away. Each time she reluctantly returned. The fourth time she stepped away she felt long, gentle fingers close around her wrist.

"What are you making a run for?" Chapman's voice was soft, curious. Maya was caught off guard.

"I am supposed to call my family. I just... I can't." The blonde pursed her lips for a moment, then pulled Maya behind her.

"I want to show you something. Follow me." She let the frail wrist go and the two walked down the hall. Everything here looked the same and Maya briefly prayed they weren't headed for the chapel. The double doors that were pushed open revealed the prison yard. Women walked or jogged around a track, some sat in the grass, reading or napping. It felt wonderful outside and Maya only began to realize how much she missed the sunlight and fresh air. Tears stung her eyes.

"This was the first thing that made me feel like a real person when I got here," Chapman explained, unable to hide her smile as she read the shorter girl's expression.

"Thank you, Chapman," Maya breathed, then shook her head. "You know, I don't know your name."

"It's Piper." The two smiled at one another. "Want to take a walk around the track?"

The simple joy of being outdoors rejuvenated Maya. She really knew what Piper was talking about, she felt positively alive. With her new-found energy, she mustered up her courage and returned to the phones. This time she remained in line.

Shaking fingers punched in the phone number she had known her whole life. It seemed to ring for ages, and she had to fight her wild desire to hang up and run. On what must have been the tenth ring, someone picked up.

"Hello?" a hesitant young man asked after accepting the toll charges.

"Marsh!" Maya yelped and tears instantly fell. "Oh, my god, Marsh. I'm so glad it's you."

"Maya!" The volume of his voice filled her ear. "Maya, what the fuck!"

"Marshall, I'm sorry, I-"

"No, no don't be. I'm sorry, I just- What happened?" Maya's voice shook as she recalled the shortest version of the story she could. About her involvement with Johnny and "the business", about Bea's passing which her brother had heard rumors of, and about being put away. He was full of questions she didn't have answers to.

"The involuntary manslaughter is pending, and that will decide my sentence for sure." As she explained she felt two inches tall.

"What in the fuck could you have had to do with that?" he asked, angered.

"She was at my apartment. And she'd used Johnny's stash, which was in a dresser in my room. They're saying it's m-"

"That's so fucked. When dad finds out he'll get you a good lawyer. We'll get you out of this," Marshall's voice was so protective and sounded so much like their father's voice that Maya cried harder.

"They're going to hate me, Marsh," she managed to choke. He soothed her and insisted they would love her all the same. They'd get through this. Their parents were out of service at their uncle's house upstate but Marshall assured Maya they'd come to visit as soon as possible. He also got Maya's mailing address.

"I'm just glad you're okay. You're okay in there, right?"

"I'm fine, little brother," she said with a smile. "I love you."

"Love you, too," he replied. They said their goodbyes and upon hanging up, she lifted her shirt to dry her eyes. Not watching her surroundings she almost tripped over the person on the phone beside her. Without looking up she breathed an apology.

...

The day had renewed Maya Luna. She was delighted at lunch to overhear that there was a group meeting for yoga in the late afternoon, and made note of the location.

Taystee was thrilled to hear of her conversation with her brother. The two sat at a table separate from Taystee's friends so they could speak in confidence. Maya didn't want to let the hateful women ruin her high spirits. Towards the end of the meal period the two returned to the table and Taystee was pulled into a conversation excluding Maya. The girl didn't mind one bit as she finished her banana.

She decided to spend the remaining time between lunch and yoga outside. She couldn't get enough. She found a patch of wildflowers that would have called Bea's name, and for the first time she allowed herself to smile at the memory of her friend. The two made countless flower bracelets, necklaces, and crowns in their schoolgirl days and Maya now sat to do the same. She carefully knotted one flower with another, and then another. When she was joined by another woman, she was shocked to see who.

"I used to make those with my sister. When we were kids." A real name escaped her for she only really knew the lady as Crazy Eyes. She forced a smile at the recollection.

"I made them with my best friend," she offered. Crazy Eyes nodded slowly.

"The one who died. How did you do it?" Maya looked down at her flowers in confusion, her work pretty obvious. "No, no, no. Your best friend, how did you... how did she die?" Maya's own eyes widened.

"I didn't kill her, if that's what you're asking." She was growing breathless.

"You said it was your fault. Or that that's why you're here." The matter-of-fact gaze staring back at her made her queasy.

"The, um, drugs that killed her. They think they were mine." Lips formed into an oh. "They weren't," Maya added for good measure.

"You don't seem like a killer," a dark hand touched Maya's. "I'm sorry that happened to you."

"Thank you," Maya said with another forced smile.

"I'm Suzanne." The hand squeezed hers before it was drawn back. Maya was touched by the effort the girl was making.

"I'm Maya," she offered, and received a knowing nod. Suzanne had begun a floral creation of her own as she nodded.

"Sorry for freezing you out, we just can't trust anyone new. Vee fucked us real bad. We won't let anyone else fuck us like that."

"I understand," Maya murmured, going back to work. Suzanne just nodded. After a long silence, she spoke again.

"You don't seem like you'll fuck us like that. I like you. You're a gentle soul, I can tell." The girl took on a profound tone which struck Maya. She gave her first real smile of the encounter.

...

Going into downward dog, Maya was surprised as the flower crown she forgot she wore fell from her head to the ground. It was Suzanne's handiwork, and was crafted much better than the bracelet she had tied around the other girl's wrist. They were exchanged as peace offerings on Suzanne's insistence, and the girl with knots of hair promised she'd try to convince the other girls Maya was cool.

Deep breathing was a skill Maya had long forgotten. She was remembering now how beneficial it was to her for so long. She moved from pose to pose with ease and joyful familiarity filled her lungs. Yoga Jones called poses gently from the front of the room and the surprisingly crowded class did as instructed. The experience was surprisingly and truthfully enjoyable. Maya chose to accept the invitation to sit with Yoga Jones and her friends for dinner. She was learning to love meeting new people, and was surprised at how many ladies she was coming to truly like.

"Are you going to the movie viewing tonight?" Sister Ingalls asked. "They're showing 'Breakfast at Tiffany's', a pleasantly surprising choice."

"I've had a big day, I really think I'd like to lie down." As if on cue, Maya failed to stifle a yawn. She interjected her share into the conversation, but by the end found herself struggling to keep her eyes open. She gave a heartfelt goodbye before making her way back to cell block B.

Though her eyes drooped through the duration of her walk back, the minute Maya's head hit the pillow she was wide awake. She fought herself, willing sleep to come and to give her mind a rest. After failing miserably she retreated to the bathroom, toothbrush and towel in tow. The dingy bathroom was deserted, and Maya wasn't quite sure she was allowed to be there, but what could happen? She was in fucking prison. The water sprayed steaming hot and reddened her tan skin. It was the best shower she'd had in quite a while. She soaked it in until it ran lukewarm before toweling dry; out of habit she remained in the shower while drying and re-dressing. She brushed her teeth then retreated back to her room.

From her dresser she plucked the book she had checked out the evening before, after her shift at the library. She hugged her legs to her chest and rested the book at her feet, resting her chin on her knees as she read. Minutes passed and pages turned. She didn't have the slightest inclination how much time had passed when she heard a giggling girl fast approaching. Poussey was all smiles as she entered the room and immediately started rummaging through her things. She didn't notice Maya until the seated girl sneezed. Maya sneezed like a whisper, but her presence had gone unnoticed and Poussey jumped in surprise.

"Yo, I, uh, didn't see you there." Poussey was stuttering with what seemed to be nerves, and Maya detected a distinct slur to her voice.

"I'm sorry," Maya murmured. She braved eye contact and brown eyes met brown eyes. Her heart slammed in her chest when Poussey gave her a small, unreadable smile. She walked over to Maya's bed, Maya frozen where she sat. Poussey was full of surprises as she sank down onto Maya's bed beside her. Seated side by side the girls silently stared at each other. Maya grew dizzy when she felt Poussey's breath and fully realized their close proximity.

"I heard you earlier," Poussey murmured quickly. "Talkin' to your little bro." Maya's breath caught in her lungs. She looked back with wide doe-eyes.

"You did?"

"Man, that's mad fucked about your friend. I couldn't even imagine if T- I can't imagine." She shook her head and dropped her gaze. She shocked Maya further by reaching out and gently taking her hand. Maya's fingers were stiff even after Poussey's small, thin digits laced through; her gaze dropped to study the contact. "I'm sorry."

Maya remained silent and instead let her mind take over. Was Poussey sorry simply for her bad fortune? Or was there possibly more hiding behind the apology? Maya disregarded the thought almost as quickly as it had come. It's not like there was just a switch that could be flipped to make this girl beside her like her. The harsh, deathly looks she so often gave and the stinging comments she made were not accidental.

"I didn't tell my family I was arrested until my court date. Thought I could find a way to get myself out of it or some shit. That's one of the hardest things, man. How much this fucks with the people you don't want to fuck with." When Poussey squeezed Maya's hand, the silent girl instinctively let her hand relax, even faintly squeezing back.

"Yeah," Maya managed to murmur in agreement. She raised her eyes back to the girl beside her and gasped at the intense gaze staring back at her. The dark brown eyes that bore into her were cloudy with intoxication, and Maya wondered what she could possibly have taken. Maya was a slight girl, barely reaching 5'2, so it was strange being in such proximity to someone so close to her own size. She couldn't help but notice their hands fit each other perfectly; their arms rested against each other and Maya's skin was ablaze. She could have sworn she saw Poussey lean in even closer, but just as quickly the other girl let out a deep breath and simultaneously released Maya's hand and jumped to her feet.

"I forgot... I uh, gotta get back." She looked pained as she turned to go, pausing at the entrance to their bunk to once more gaze at Maya sadly.

...

When Maya woke, Poussey remained asleep in the bed several feet away. She watched her for a few seconds and briefly debated if she had dreamed their encounter from the night before. She shook the thoughts away and went about gathering her things for a shower.

When she returned to the cell, Poussey had just opened her eyes. Their vision locked for a moment that felt like forever. Neither said a word, neither broke their flat expressions. Maya neatly put her things away as Poussey pulled a grey sweatshirt on over her white t-shirt. She remained seated on her bed and Maya felt her eyes on her.

"Hey, Maya, help your girl out!" came from a few cells down, the booming voice drawing nearer. Taystee appeared with a grin on her face and two magazines in hand. "I'm thinking of making a change. These bitches be on point with their hair and I was thinking of hitting up Sophia later. What do you think?" The two sat on Maya's bed and excitedly poured over the options, losing themselves in the possibilities.

"Yo, your majesties, hate to break up your little beauty committee, but we're cutting it close with breakfast time." When Maya looked back up to Poussey, her heart sank to find the resentful, stone-hard glare back in place.