The Inmate

by Freida McFadden

“Brooke Sullivan.”

Dorothy Kuntz?”

Correctional Officer Steven Benton.

“Nurse practitioner,”

“What about a computer?” “Medical records are all on paper.”

OMG

“Dr. Wittenburg

I look like I’m in college, and I feel like I’m fifty. Story of my life.

“Don’t worry,”

“It’s not as scary as you think.

It’s because of one of the inmates in this prison. Someone I knew a long time ago, who I am not eager to see ever again.

But I can’t tell that to Dorothy. I can’t reveal to her that the man who was my very first boyfriend is an inmate at Raker Maximum Security Penitentiary, currently serving life without the possibility of parole. And I’m the one who put him here.

Raker Penitentiary

Margie is a local grandma

going to be watching Josh

Margie,”

I don’t quite understand how you can love somebody so much, yet so frequently want to throttle them.

And I can think of a few other reasons why he would be scared about starting school after what happened back in Queens.

The problem with your kid getting older is they know there are some things you can’t promise.

Mr. Henderson

Correctional officer Marcus Hunt

Nelson.

I close my eyes and I can still see his ruggedly handsome face. His eyes looking into mine. I love you, Brooke. That was what he said to me just a few hours before he tried to kill me. And that’s not even the worst thing he did.

Shane Nelson

best friend Chelsea.

Chelsea and Brandon.”

Tim Reese

Shane and Chelsea and Brandon.”

Tim was the one who bought me the snowflake necklace I always wear. He got it for me for my tenth birthday,

Ms. Sullivan,”

assistant principal.”

tim reese

maximum-security prison

brooke

Malcolm Carpenter.”

It’s Shane.

OH NO

Just picked up Brandon and my mom is already on the road. Come on over!

Be there soon! Lope you!

Lope you too.

The man who tried to kill me.

The necklace he tried to choke me with cutting off my windpipe.

“You should keep the door open with this one,”

o…ok ·*worried*

“Well, Brooke, I’m spending my life in prison for something I didn’t do,

UMMMMM SIR!

“We’re all out.”

HOW??

“Excuse me?”

girl i can agree

“Stitch him up without it.”

OMG

heard some of the guys talking about the cute new nurse practitioner who’s also single.”

OMG

“It’s sandalwood scented.”

I wasn’t the one who tried to kill you, Brooke. I swear to you. I swear on my life.”

SIR!

That asshole Reese knocked me out with a baseball bat,

WHAT! TIM?!

“Hurry up, you piece of shit,” Hunt spits out at him.

HUNT YOU CANT SAY THAT!

I never saw the face of the man who tried to kill me. The power was out that night and everything was pitch black. But I knew Shane very well. I knew the feel of his body. The smell of him. I knew it was him. It had to be. Because if it wasn’t him, I have made a terrible mistake.

Hey, it’s Tim Reese. I got your number from the parent directory. Hope that’s not too creepy.