AISLYN

“Hey, can I have some water, please?” I call to one of the guards that walks past my cell in their usual surveillance routine.

Unlike the others that have ignored me so far, this one stops and turns to face the bars that hold me away in confinement. My relief at having someone respond to me after hours of pleading dies a swift death, leaving me feeling insecure.

I take a step away from the bars, swallowing thickly as the face of the guard comes into view. His eyes are glowing a ...