He wasn't the first one they killed and he certainly wasn't the last.
We stuck closer together from then on. That made them angrier.
The punishments they handed out for 'rule breaking' got a lot worse as the days went by.
It was only a few weeks after when we got a new inmate. In for murder and barley turned eighteen.
Unlike many of the others he did as he was told and followed the rules to the best of his ability.
He stuck close to me. He was the little brother I never had.
It happened around 3 years later.
One of our fellow inmates was being beaten by an officer. The reason was not apparent at the time.
The lad snapped. He marched up to the officer and punched him in the face. From where I was I could clearly see his broken nose.
I remember how the room fell silent.
Nobody really saw what happened next.
The lad fell to the floor, blood pouring out of his chest.
A glint of a blade could be seen in the officer's hand.
I ran over to my brother's side, panic showing clearly on my face.
Sometimes I can still feel him in my arms.
I can still remember the fear in his eyes and the look of pain on his face.
I can still remember the sad smile he gave despite all that.
The light faded from his eyes soon after.
