Amanda had way too much time to think being at the hospital without any friends. She didn’t want to dwell on her thoughts for too long lest the wrong ones might emerge. She was hoping to forget what happened to her.

— Jason Medina

By dinnertime, Amanda had managed to pick off all of her red nail polish purely out of habit. She was disappointed and silently cursed at herself when she remembered not having anymore to put on. She stared at her fingernails for about twenty minutes for lack of something better to do.

— Jason Medina

By the time she awoke she couldn’t even remember if she had a dream or a nightmare. There had only been a deathlike peace.

— Jason Medina

For a while she cried silently until she tired herself out and the overwhelming feeling of sleepiness overcame her. The surrounding room was fairly silent, although she wasn’t the only one crying herself to sleep. It was quite common at places like this to hear cries in the dark. There were so many saddened and lonesome souls around her. It was usually at night when they were reminded of just how sad and lonely they actually were.

— Jason Medina

Now to tell ya about our fellow inmates. Pay attention because there are a bunch of us an’ we each have a story.

— Jason Medina