Andrew Green opened his eyes- one blue, one brown- and continued to stare at his niece.
"That was the first and last time I saw you in person. I had only ever gotten Christmas cards from your mother with your picture," he whispered. The prisoners had risen to their feet by now. Em was looking at Phyla with a shocked expression. "I always thought about you... What you had said. I was never ashamed of my eye color- er, colors- after that." He paused. "Phyla... You look so much like Sarah."
Phyla furrowed her brow like she had that one night years ago. Another confused look.
"How did you-?"
The door burst open again. The blue light almost knocked the prisoners off their feet once more.
"Green! What's taking so long? You were supposed to have them out and in the examination room by now!" Andrew straightened and repositioned his gun.
"Doing it now, sir." Phyla's uncle strode briskly to the front of the line. "Let's MOVE IT, swine! MOVE!" he bellowed.
The prisoners shuffled their feet after the two soldiers, arms crossed and shivering. One by one they filed out into the painful light from concrete ground to gravel. Winces of the barefooted flitted through the air like black butterflies...
