She smiled again. Briefly, but honestly. That chapter was closed.
She lay down on the cot. Closed her eyes. For the first time in months, sleep came quickly.
It was deep sleep, dreamless. The next morning started the way mornings always did. Lineup at 6:30 sharp.
Olivia stood in the row of officers. Uniform buttoned, eyes forward. The inmates filed past.
None of them held her gaze for more than a second. After lineup, Pete caught up with her in the hallway. “Heard your sister came by.”
“She did.” “She pretty?” Olivia nodded once.
“Yes. Very.” He smiled. “That’s good she came.”
“Yes. It is.” She turned and kept walking. In the duty office she sat down and opened the logbook.
Wrote neatly: “June 24. Family visit approved. No incidents.”
She closed the heavy book. Looked at her hands. They were clean. Steady.
That evening, when lights-out sounded, she stepped into the hallway. Walked slowly past the locked cells. The inmates were asleep.
The place was quiet. Olivia stopped for a second by one of the bars. Someone inside shifted.
“Good night, ma’am,” came a quiet voice. She answered calmly. “Good night.”
Then she kept walking. Her steps were even and firm. In her room, she took out a letter from her sister.
It had arrived only yesterday. She read it again. “Liv, we all miss you.”
“Come see us this summer if you can. The kids ask about Aunt Liv every day. Be careful out there.
Love, Ellen.” Olivia folded the letter carefully and put it in the drawer beside the knife. Then she lay down.
Closed her eyes. Sleep came almost at once.
