c sound forced

open and stared blankly at the grey ceiling and sudden

n in my back. My whole body was sore fro

against the cell door. "You, you're entitle

t of calling Liza made my chest ache. I got up

shaking hands and dialed th

e second ring. "He

y eyes. "Liza." I said gently.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I... I can explain Liza." "Y

y." I sai

e wer

one tighter, I couldn't

en?" She asked. "Yo

replied quickly. "Are yo

about me." The lie tasted

sound normal. "Ho

nt is going smoothly." I breathed a sigh

n't sound okay." Sh

Liza I p

say so." She s

u soon." I s

he

know when I'd be let out, I didn

efore should could ask anyt

st, but I had to before sh

ars, I turned to the guard by the do

ankly. "You can on

cracked. "But please...

ath then sighed. "

ou so mu

and immediately diale

"Hello, this is Mika. Who am I

, it's me

t do you want, Jasmine.

our help,

"How dare y

Mika please, my bail is

ow, and?"

you k

news is everywhe

e help me."

can

lend me t

ine, this is your

s. "But I don't have f

something out

ika, pl

ne wen

phone, she reall

if I was okay, I don

door, and followed the

ka's words rang in my head. "

o way I could figu

the Red Velvet because she prom

ugh, worked hard enough, and paid ever

ay, instead, I'm here sitting in

time,

n sitting across from

tion to her since yesterday. She looke

Your first time in

" She asked. I hesitated, "No

ped her. "That's w

"I really didn't do what I

press further. Instead, she walked

g girl?" She asked

, trying to stop the

. "What about her? Do yo

I'm not proud of to sav

d drifted to the day

he was busy complaining about how hungry sh

pital. There, the doctors ran multiple tests before

, intense treatment meant expensive tr

t, sobbing looking at her sleeping face

d her to help with the money for the treatme

inally choosing to help us witho

ent on one condition. I thought she would say I shoul

Red Velvet". She gave me a choice, work for her at the club a

arched for jobs, but I knew no job could p

o I agreed. For three years, I su

rk every night, she saved me for her im

ry time I wanted to quit

her fingers, dragging

know." She said softly. I no

ell. "Jasmine Hart?" I stood i

e, you're be

"What?

as been paid." Th

him. "Wait

id

ly ruled ou

ifty thousand d

ven. I don't

urned to me in a c

nst my chest. The guard

ned to look at my cell mate

you."

han you think, g

's wrong about that.

the cold night air immed

eet in front of the stati

ay." I whispe

nly one question in my