𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐌𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝

𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄

Next morning

Cook County Jail

    Mia spent the night lost in the depths of her own mind, her eyes fixated on the vast emptiness in front of her. The darkness seemed to stretch on endlessly as she contemplated the choices and events that had brought her to this confined space. Hours passed like mere minutes, and before she knew it, the soft hum of the cell door opening filled the air, the automatic mechanism, with its familiar sound, indicating it was the morning.

"Hey, luv if you wanna shower and not wait in the line you need to get up." She heard Amber say. "Come on take your things and let's go" she gathered her hygiene essentials and a fresh set of prison garb before joining Amber outside the cell.

As they ventured down the dimly lit hallway, Mia's curiosity got the best of her. "What time is it?" she asked.

Amber shrugged, a hint of uncertainty in her response. "Honestly, I don't know. I just wait for those cell doors to swing open."

Mia nodded. "You do this every morning?" she probed further.

"Yep," Amber confirmed with a nonchalant tone, as if it had become second nature to her.

"Where are Tess and Tracy?" she wondered aloud, suddenly aware of their absence.

"They work in the kitchen, so they're up bright and early."

"Oh, I see," Mia responded. Lost in her own thoughts, she hadn't noticed their departure or even the sound of the cell door opening.

As they entered the bathroom, Mia couldn't help but notice that it wasn't as dirty as she thought. The walls were painted a drab gray like the rest of the place, reflecting the somber atmosphere that permeated the entire facility. Harsh fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting an unflattering glow on the worn-out linoleum floors. The air was heavy with a mix of disinfectant and the faint scent of despair.

Mia couldn't help but feel a sense of confinement as she looked around the cramped space. The toilets and sinks, made of cold, unforgiving metal, seemed to symbolize the lack of humanity in this place.

"We've got a couple of minutes before it gets crowded in here," Amber informed Mia, beginning to strip out of her clothes. Mia quickly averted her gaze, immediately looked away.

________

    In the bustling prison cafeteria, Mia found herself seated at a bench-like table with Amber by her side, Tess next to Amber, and Ashtray across from Mia. The room was filled with the clatter of trays and the aroma of institutional food, as inmates around them dug into their meals. However, Mia sat there, absentmindedly twirling her plastic spoon in her bowl, showing no interest in eating.

Ashtray couldn't help but notice Mia's lack of appetite, their concern growing with each passing moment. They hesitated to speak up, unsure if they should address the issue. But eventually, their curiosity got the better of them, and they couldn't resist asking.

"You good?" Mia looked up, meeting their gaze.

"You, uh, haven't touched your food," Ashtray pointed out.

"You haven't eaten since you got here." Amber chimed in.

"I'm not hungry." Mia stated.