CHAPTER EIGHT - The Heart of Emma Dawns by UserUser58, literature
Literature
CHAPTER EIGHT - The Heart of Emma Dawns
Written by UseraXX. The two saw guard Emma shine her flashlight onto them as they approached their barred door window and she said to the two, “You don’t want anyone to see you.” Mabel panicked and said, “It’s not what it looks like.” Emma raised her eyebrow and sarcastically said, “Sure. I always kiss my friends like it’s nothing.” Mabel and Ashley looked at each other scared, as Mabel held Ashley’s hand and Ashley thought of letting go, but realized she didn’t want her to feel any more scared than she already was and held her grip firm. Emma said, “You two honestly make such a good couple. Stay awake for a few more hours and then we’ll talk.” She went away as Mabel and Ashley looked at each other confused, til Ashley started to laugh and Mabel was no ever more confused. “What is it?” Mabel asked. Ashley said to her “We’re going to be fine.” Mabel walked over to her bed, starting to breathe heavily, “How? If she reports us, we’ll be separated, and without you, I’ll go crazy in here.” Ashley said, “Don’t be like that. You won’t go crazy without me, just sad until your dying days.” Mabel became upset and said, “Not the time. And why don’t you see this as a bad thing.” Ashley went to sit next to her and said, “I don’t know much about Emma, but I think she understands us.” *** Warden Bessie Hughes asked Emma, “So why do you want to be a guard here at Blainsville Federal Prison?” Emma said, “I just…. Need the money. I lost my job as a bouncer and I know how to handle a few people now and then when they need,” cracks muscles sarcastically, “The you know what.” Hughes said sternly, “That’s not what a guard here does. They are plenty here who deserve punishment, but people here are trying to be on the straight and narrow, and it’s my job here people feel like their’s still a second chance.” Emma became worried and said, “That’s not what I meant, I just… I knew a few friends who been in jail where I’m from, and I thought maybe I could help out in a place like this.” Hughes said, “Prison isn’t jail. Prison follows you the rest of your life, both as a guard and as a prisoner. If you agree to work here, you’ll have to make that commitment, understood?” *** Gabbi asked, “So why a prison guard again?” Emma said to her girlfriend, “I need the money.” Gabbi said, “But you told me that you told this warden person….” “Warden Hughes,” Emma interrupted. Gabbi said, “...You had friends in jail. What friends?” “The ones that got to her sympathy,” she said as she took her lover’s body and lay her across their couch. Gabbi said, “I just don’t want you to get hurt. These people are terrible.” Emma said, “Don’t be like that. I’m sure some just are in for taxes, or…” “They are cannibals in prison. CANNIBALS!” “I checked and they are no cannibals,” she said as she leaned across the couch, “Look if I help out at the prison, I don’t force you to take an extra shift at the hospital.” “Please,” Gabbi said rolling her eyes, “I’m at least going to help people out. I guess this is more ‘productive’ than being a bouncer, but what duty do you hold as a prison guard?” *** Emma at the yard saw two of the inmates fighting each other with her and another guard named Violet taking them apart, and bringing them to solitary. Violet said to Emma, “These animals belong in cages all day.” Emma said, “Seems a bit harsh.” Violet stopped and looked at Emma dead in the eye, “Listen a year from now, you’ll hate everyone here and only find joy in seeing them suffer.” Emma was at a lost for words but Violet followed up with, “I know that sounds cruel, but is their to like about this job?” *** Emma asked the chef seeing her new helper if anything was going on and the chef said, “Not sure if this tastes good, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.” Against her better judgment, Emma took a piece and bit into it, “Wow, this is actually really good.” The chef, shocked but smiling said, “You really think so?” *** On the road as the chain gang was tired, Wendy let go and fell down and Violet came up to her and said, “Inmate stop being lazy.” Emma came up to her and said, “Look she’s tired, and I would be too…” Violet pushed Emma and said, “Stop making excuses for them. They ran out once they got here.” Emma asked Wendy, “You okay?” and helped her back up. Wendy said, “Thanks, I’m so glad someone like you works here.” *** Maddie and Jessie were on the wall to the building with Emma walking by and seeing the two kiss. Emma want up to them and said, “Why are you two doing this out in the open?” Emma saw Maddie have a tear in here eye and Jessie said, “She just really needed this.” Emma said to them, “Listen I…” then she had an idea, “I understand.” *** Emma came home from work and saw Gabbi mad at her. “What?” Emma asked. Gabbi was pissed and said, “You keep taking on more shifts at the prison, yet I’d been trying to find time to be with you.” “They need me…” “SHUT UP!” Gabbi said, “It sounds like you rather be at the prison than with me. It’s all you talk about.” “No I don’t.” “Oh really? What about your ideas to improve the prison, your plights about the prisoners, or…” “Enough!” Emma exclaimed, “If no one else will help them out, who will?” “Those people deserve to rot!” “If you were behind bars, would you want me to let you rot?” “I’m better than them.” “Don’t you talk like that!” Emma and Gabbi were so crossed with each other, the two realized their desires were much different, and agreed to end their relationship. *** Emma opened Ashley and Mabel’s cell door and the two exited to see the cameras off, and Maddie, Jessie, and many other inmates in relationships sit around the tables with the two joining their friends while Emma stood in front of them all. Emma said, “I realize many of you are tired of hiding who you are and I’m thinking of starting a petition to allow relationships in prison, and it be a huge risk, but I think if being with the one you love makes you a better person, than embrace it, leave this place a better person. Who’s with me? And if you agree be quiet.” The inmates gave silent cheers, as they agreed to meet up and come up with a plan to change the way the prison views relationships. Emma closed the cell door to Mabel and Ashley’s home where she saw the two kiss before heading to bed. At home, Emma put her things away as she on her phone a missed call from Gabbi and endless texts about getting back together, but Emma didn’t really knew where her friends were anymore. That prison became a place she felt like she could help out, and lost herself out of it, that she realized prison really became a part of her and wanted to find joy again elsewhere. Here and now, she called Gabbi back and said, “Hey it’s been a while….”