Beyoncé
I'm at the door giving out orders. Higgin's weird ass finally came through with them. The girls from my block talk loudly and I try to get them to hush to not draw attention to me.
Megan's got cleaning duties this morning, unsurprisingly. She ran her mouth to the wrong officer and had to do everyone's part. I will admit I enjoyed seeing it.
"Pete lives here?" One of them asks.
The four remaining girls crowd around her. I can't tell if I'm gonna get jumped or if they're afraid of me but the girl speaking to me leans forward. She looks new, but not that new.
"Yeah, why?" I wipe my hands on my shirt.
"She a crier."
I side eye the older woman in front of me. That matters to me why?
"Yeah, ever since she's been admitted she cries every night." The other ones agree. "Shakin' the bed and shit."
It feels odd for them to be bringing the gossip here. It feels even weirder for them to to be speaking this way of someone I'm cool with. As if they want me to use this against her.
All I can muster up is an "Um."
"Yeah s— -"
"Um, y'all can take that away from here. This is not tea time."
They scatter without hesitation. I know Megan was crying, but why does that matter to me. They say it so boldly like they were doing the same when they came here. We all did. I don't care who the person is, I just wouldn't allow them to be dragged through the mud.
Speaking of Megan, it's cordial. We're not the bestest friends but we're cordial. I'm slowly de-stigmatizing making connections in this shit hole. I need it because at the end of the day you need at least one one other person aside from yourself.
By the time I put away some of my things for room checks, she's back. I gulp hard when I see her in her tight wife beater, her hair lazily tied back in a high puff and her arms and neck glistening a bit. Once I realize how entranced I am, I move on to my bed and sit.
"Hey." She huffs.
"Hey."
She wipes the sweat from her forehead with her forearm and looks at me. I can't help but smile at her.
"What?" She smirks back.
"How was cleanin' duties?"
"Fine." She lays down on her bed and looks at me. "You gave orders?"
"Mmhmm."
I decided to ask the million dollar question. If she was crying that's because she's gonna do at least 5 years of time.
"What you in here for?"
"Ion know, they sayin' I killed and robbed." She coughs. "Didn't do it though."
"So you here on a false accusation?"
She nods. I decide to not press anymore when I see her start to tear up.
"What about you?" She flexes her shoulders a bit.
Before I get pissed I realize it's fair. I nearly made her cry.
"I killed."
She sits up and looks at me shocked. I hold my head up high and look at her.
"Like actually killed?" She gulps and I can see thoughts running through her head.
Can't tell what they are but I'm wondering if I've jeopardized anything.
"I regret it though, I really do."
I only really regret it because it damaged the relationship I had with my sister and I cannot see my mother. The man deserved it.
"I can tell." She comes up closer to me.
It's now that I kind of feel threatened just by her height. I meet my eyes with hers and jolt them right back down to my feet. I'm so grateful she didn't press further though.
"I hope your case goes well, Megan, I really do."
"Thanks."
I want her to leave.
