𝐈𝐍𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝟑𝟏𝟒

The Silent Prisoner

Lisa lay on her narrow cot, staring blankly at the cold, grey ceiling. The fluorescent light above flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls. She had lost count of the days, weeks, months - years - she'd spent trapped within these unforgiving confines.

Time had become a meaningless concept, a never-ending cycle of monotony. Lisa's world had shrunk to the confines of her cell, where silence was her only solace. She had given up on hope.

Her thoughts drifted to the day she was sentenced, her parents' faces etched with shame and disappointment. Her mother's tears, her father's stern expression. They had vowed to support her, but their absence spoke louder than words.

"We'll visit you every week, sweetie," her mother had promised, her voice trembling.

"We'll get through this together," her father had said, his eyes filled with determination.

But weeks turned into months, and months into years. The silence from her family was deafening.

Lisa remembered the last conversation she had with her parents, the words still seared into her mind:

"You've brought shame to our family, Lisa," her father had said, his voice cold.

"We can't bear to look at you right now," her mother had added, turning away.

Those words cut deeper than any knife. Lisa felt like she was toxic, unworthy of love.

She recalled the countless letters she had written, pleading for their visits, for their love. The return address remained blank, her words unanswered.

"Dear Mom and Dad," she had written. "Please come visit me. I need you. I love you."

The silence was crippling.

Lisa's heart ached as she thought about her parents' abandonment. Why had they forsaken her? Had she been that bad of a daughter?

Tears streamed down her face as she remembered the happy times, the laughter, the warmth. Now, those memories seemed like a distant dream, a fleeting glimpse of happiness she'd never experience again.

As the darkness closed in, Lisa's thoughts turned bitter. Perhaps she was better off without them. Perhaps their absence was a mercy.

But deep down, she knew that wasn't true. She longed for their love, their acceptance.

The sound of footsteps echoed outside her cell, breaking the spell of her thoughts. Lisa's gaze fell upon the floor, her eyes welling up with unshed tears.

A new jailor stood in the doorway, a look of curiosity on her face.

"Lisa, I'm Jennie. I'll be overseeing your block," Jennie announced firmly but gently.

Lisa's gaze flickered up, her eyes locking onto Jennie's. For a moment, they held each other's gaze, and Lisa sensed something unexpected - compassion.