Nomad's Baby

The Cost

Her day always started with a buzz.

The echoing was followed by metal shifting and the clang when it stopped.

Sera remained in bed, listening to the other inmates moving around, glad to be free of their mini cages so they could be free to roam a larger one.

How many times had she been on this cot, remembering all that shit? Going back to it over and over in her head like any of it mattered.

Seven years of her life had been spent flashing back to that moment.

Reliving it again and again, stuck there in her mind like her body was stuck in this prison.

And none of it mattered because no matter how bad she wanted to, she couldn't take it back.

The cot over her head moved, signaling her cellmate was awake.

"Morning roomie."

The corner of her mouth lifted at the sound of Sylvie's voice.

"Morning."

"Today's the day huh?" she asked.

"Yeah."

Today was the day.

After seven long years, she made it to the day when her incarceration would end.

In the cafeteria a little while later they were shuffling along getting breakfast.

"Ugh," Sylvie said. "Make sure you have a buffet somewhere for me, alright?"

She kept her voice low. But it wasn't easy keeping secrets around here. Eyes were always watching, ears were always open. From the inmates to the correctional officers, probably the cafeteria workers too.

Breakfast was a mishmash of toast, scrambled eggs and grits, with some butter and jelly condiments in the corner and a carton of orange juice. Sera wasn't big on milk.

They walked to the table where they sat everyday, against the wall near a window where you could see the grounds.

On the way she caught the eye of C.C. Clark. A pale woman with dark hair and some of the darkest eyes she'd ever seen. It went beyond color. It was something that happened to you when you'd been through some serious shit.

C.C. had made it her priority to cause hell in her life when she first arrived, along with her little gang of minions. The woman's stare followed her as she made her way to the table. Even after she broke eye contact she could feel it.

"She must know."

Sera shrugged as she sat down. "I don't give a fuck."

Sylvie's head tilted at her and she looked at her in that way.

Sera quickly broke eye contact to start breakfast.

"You're gonna be ok out there, you know that right?" The older woman softly assured.

While chewing she nodded.

There were scars on Sera's hands now. Old scars.

A lot of them were from defending herself against C.C.'s beatdowns. It took some skillful use of one of the same trays she was eating from to get that bitch to heel. It sent her to solitary and C.C. to the hospital for a few days.

And Sera spent that week in isolation smiling, for the first time in a long time.

She smiled despite knowing consequences would be coming. And she likely wouldn't make it a week once back in gen pop with the rest of the inmates.