When did eavesdropping change your life?

 THE SETUP AND THE PSYCH WARD

My pulse raced as I heard footsteps above. Lily was upstairs, but to get to her, I’d have to pass through the living room where Megan had been. Taking a deep breath, I started up the stairs. Each creek making me wse.

I was halfway up when a sweet voice called from below. “Mildred, I thought you left”. “Did you forget something?” I turned to find Megan at the bottom of the stairs, blocking my only exit. Her smile was warm, concerned even, but her eyes were cold. My phone buzzed repeatedly in my pocket.

David calling back. Megan’s gaze flicked to the sound, her smile tightening. “I um I forgot Lily’s inhaler,” I managed, my voice surprisingly steady. “Oh, don’t worry about that”. “I have one here”. “Come on down”. “I’ll show you”.

She gestured toward the kitchen where I knew those poisoned brownies were waiting. “Lily, sweetie, mommy’s here”. The sound of little feet running overhead made my chest tighten. Lily appeared at the top of the stairs, paint smeared on her cheeks, beaming.

“Mommy, I’m painting”. “That’s wonderful, baby,” I said, not taking my eyes off Megan. “Come here”. “We need to go”. “But Aunt Megan promised special treats,” Lily protested.

“That’s right,” Megan said, her hand moving to the banister, subtly blocking more of the stairway. “Fresh brownies just for our special girl”. “One won’t hurt before you go”.

I started down the stairs, trying to keep my movements casual, while my mind raced. Lily bounded down behind me, and I caught her hand as soon as she was within reach. “Actually, we have a doctor’s appointment,” I said, pulling Lily toward the door.

“I completely forgot”. Megan stepped directly in front of the door, her expression sympathetic. “Oh, Mildred, you look so stressed”. “Why don’t you sit down for a minute?” “The brownies are still warm”.

My phone was going crazy now. David’s texts flooding in. “At security, can’t leave airport”. “What’s happening?” Another buzz, this time, Megan’s phone. She glanced at it, and her face went pale for just a second before she recovered.

I caught a glimpse of the message. “Mom, where are you?” “Dad’s freaking out about Europe receipts”. “We really need to go,” I said firmly, trying to step around her.

“She didn’t move, but I made them especially for Lily, her favorite chocolate with nuts”. Her hand reached out to touch Lily’s head, and I pulled my daughter behind me. “I said no”.

The mask finally slipped. Her eyes narrowed and for a moment I saw the real Megan. “I found them, you know,” she said quietly. “The baby monitors, all of them”. “Were you hoping to catch me doing something wrong?” “That’s really hurtful after all I’ve done for this family”. My blood ran cold.

She knew. She’d known I was listening. Her phone rang. She answered without breaking eye contact with me. “Hi, Tom”. “What investigator?” “The insurance investigator is there now”.

Her face went white as she gripped my arm, her nails digging in. “Tell him I’ll call him back”. “Family emergency”. She hung up and tears suddenly filled her eyes. “You can’t leave with Lily”. “I’m her legal guardian”.

“If anything happens to you, it’s all in the documents you signed for the trip insurance”. “What documents?” My voice came out as a whisp. “the ones David signed last month for your trip, making me and Tom temporary guardians”.

Her tears looked so real, so convincing. “Just in case something happened while you were gone”. Tom’s car pulled into the driveway. He got out with a man in a suit. The insurance investigator.

Megan’s grip on my arm tightened. “Why don’t we go play while the adults talk?” she said to Lily, reaching for her hand. I pulled Lily closer. Tom and the investigator walked in, and the man’s eyes went straight to me.

“Mrs. Mildred, I need to speak with you about some insurance policies”. “What policies?” He pulled out a folder. “The ones you purchased for Lily, Tyler, Emma, and Mikey”. The room spun. “I never purchased any policies”.

“Your signature is on all of them,” he said, showing me the documents. Megan had worked in insurance processing before. She knew how to forge without raising flags, and luckily for her, the signatures looked exactly like mine, perfectly forged. My phone buzzed. A text from David.

“Megan just texted me”. “Says, ‘You’re having an episode'”. “What’s going on?” I looked at Megan, who was typing on her phone with one hand while holding Lily’s wrist with the other.

Within seconds, my phone exploded with messages. The family group chat. “Megan, pray for Mildred”. “She’s having paranoid delusions again and trying to take Lily”. “Tom and I are keeping everyone safe”. “Mom, oh no, not again”. “We’re on our way”.

“Aunt Sarah, I knew something was wrong at dinner”. “Poor thing”. Tom cleared his throat. “Actually, there’s something else”. “Megan, remember those papers you had me sign last month for the Europe trip?” “What papers?” Megan’s voice was sharp.

“The ones giving you power of attorney over Lily”. “You said it was just in case for the trip”. He looked confused, but the lawyer called yesterday said the guardianship papers were filed. “When?” I demanded.

Tom pulled out his phone checking emails. The date is the day before Mikey died. The room went silent. Even the investigator looked uncomfortable. I grabbed my phone to call 911, but Megan spoke first, her voice calm and clear.

“I already called them, told them you broke in and are threatening us”. “They’re sending someone to help you”. “You called the police on me”. “This is my daughter who you’re trying to kidnap in your current state,” she said sadly.

“David asked me to keep her safe until you get help”. Sirens in the distance, getting closer. I looked at the investigator desperately. “Check her laptop”. “It’s right there”. “Check the search history”.

Megan moved toward it, but Tom got there first. The screen was still open. His face went pale as he read. “Accidental ingestion children”. “Anaphilaxis response time”. “Custody after parent death”.

He looked up at Megan. “These searches are from this morning”. “4:00 a.m.” The doorbell rang. Police. Megan opened it. Tears streaming. “Thank God you’re here”. “She’s trying to take my niece”. “She’s not well”.

Two officers entered. One of them recognized Megan immediately. “Mrs. Megan from the grief counseling group”. “I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this”. She nodded, dabbing at her eyes. “It’s been so hard since the children, and now my sister-in-law is having delusions”.

The officer turned to me, his expression sympathetic, but firm. “Ma’am, we’re here to help”. “Why don’t you come with us?” “She’s trying to call my daughter”. I pulled Lily behind me. “Check the brownies in the kitchen”. “They’re poisoned”.

Megan gasped. “Officers, she’s been saying things like this for months”. “Here, I have documentation”. She pulled out a folder. Printed emails, text messages, all taken out of context, edited to make me look unstable. The timestamps were wrong, but would they notice? “Mommy”.

Lily’s voice was small, scared. “Why is everyone upset?” Jane arrived then, bursting through the door. “I’m so glad you called me, Megan”. “I’ve been so worried about Mildrid”. My heart sank. Jane was in on it, too.

“Tell them about the coffee shop,” Jane said to the officers. “How she talked about the children’s deaths obsessively”. “I was frightened”. “You were asking the questions,” I protested. But I could see how it looked.

The concerned family, the documented history, the hysterical woman claiming poisoned brownies. David finally called the police directly, but the same officer answered. Megan took the phone. “David, she’s safe”. “We’re getting her help”.

“I’m so sorry this is happening”. “We’ll take care of Lily until you get back”. “Mommy’s just confused, sweetheart,” Megan said loudly enough for everyone to hear. “Sometimes grown-ups get sick in their thoughts”.

“Like cousin Tyler,” Lily asked, and the room froze. “What about Tyler, baby?” I asked quickly. “Aunt Megan said he got confused and forgot how to use stairs safely”.

The investigator stepped forward. “I think everyone needs to calm down”. “There are serious questions here which we’ll be happy to answer”. Megan interrupted smoothly. “After Mildred gets the help she needs”.

The officers moved toward me. “Ma’am, we’d like you to come with us voluntarily for an evaluation”. I knew how this looked. If I refused, they’d take me anyway. If I went, I’d be leaving Lily with a killer.

“Can I at least say goodbye to my daughter?” They nodded. I knelt down, pulling Lily into a hug, my lips close to her ear. “Don’t eat anything,” I whispered. “Remember our special rule?” “No treats without mommy”.

She nodded against my shoulder. “I need a picture,” I said, pulling out my phone. “Please”. I snapped a photo of Lily, making sure to catch Megan in the background. Evidence, timeline, proof she was here.

Then I let them lead me away. My daughter’s confused face the last thing I saw before the door closed. In the police car, I pulled up the recording on my phone. Megan’s confession clear as day. But when I tried to play it, the audio was garbled, corrupted, useless.

My phone buzzed. A text from Megan with a photo of Lily playing happily. “She’s safe with family who loves her”. “Get the help you need”. At the station, Jane was already in the waiting room. She came to sit beside me and I pulled away.

“How much did she pay you?” Jane’s face crumbled. “My student loans, $60,000”. “I’m so sorry, but she said you were really sick”. “That this would help you get treatment”. “She’s going to call my daughter”.

“No,” Jane shook her head. “She loves those kids”. “She told me this was all in your head, that you needed help processing the grief”. “Then why did she pay you $60,000 to lie?” Jane went quiet.

The psychiatric evaluator arrived with a thick file. My history, according to Megan. Every concern I’d raised about the deaths twisted into escalating paranoia. Every question reframed as an accusation. All documented by my loving sister-in-law who was so worried about me.

David burst in then, out of breath. “Where’s Lily?” “With Megan,” I said, and watched his face change. “Why didn’t you tell me you were having these thoughts again?” He sat down heavily.

“We agreed you’d be honest after last time”. “What?” “Last time”. My voice was hollow. “David, there was no last time”. He pulled out his phone, showing me texts from my number, messages I’d never sent, talking about dark thoughts, about the children, about needing help.

“I never sent these”. “Mildred”. His voice was gentle, pitying. That’s when I realized how deep this went, how long she’d been planning. Every move calculated, every reaction anticipated. “She’s going to call our daughter,” I said flatly. “And you’re going to let her”.

The evaluator, Dr. Nitchi, adjusted her glasses and opened the file. “Mrs. Mildred, I see here you’ve been experiencing increasing paranoia about family members since Tyler’s death three years ago”.

I watched her flip through pages of fabricated documentation. Each entry meticulously dated, showing a progression from mild concern to full-blown delusion. Megan had been building this case for years. “That’s not true”. “I never”.

“according to these texts”. “You told your husband you believed Megan was out to get the children as early as 2 years ago”. She showed me screenshots, my phone number, but words I’d never typed.

David squeezed my hand. “We can get through this together”. “Just be honest with the doctor”. I yanked my hand away. Outside the evaluation room, I could see Jane pacing, her phone pressed to her ear, probably updating Megan on every word.

“I need to make a call,” I said. “After we finish here,” Dr. Nishi replied gently. “Now, can you tell me about these accusations you’ve been making?” Through the window, I saw Tom arrive with more papers.

He looked haggarded, confused. Whatever Megan had told him had him completely turned around. “The brownies,” I said desperately. “Test the brownies at her house”. “They’re full of cashews”. “My daughter is allergic”.

Dr. Nishi made a note. “And you believe your sister-in-law would intentionally harm your child?” “I heard her on the phone”. “She said, ‘The recording that’s corrupted'”. She’d already been briefed.

“Of course she had”. “Mrs. Sometimes when we’re under stress, we can misinterpret things we hear”. My phone buzzed. Another photo from Megan. Lily eating crackers, not brownies.

“Safe for now”. The caption read, “Making sure she only eats safe snacks”. “Give my love to Dr. Nishi”. She knew exactly where I was, who I was with. She’d orchestrated every detail.

“I need to go home,” I said, standing up. “My daughter needs me”. “I’m afraid I can’t recommend that right now”. Dr. Nichi’s voice remained maddeningly calm. “Based on what I’m seeing here, I believe a 72-hour hold might be beneficial”. “No”. The word tore from my throat.

“You can’t do this”. “She’s going to hurt Lily”. Two orderlys appeared at the door. They’d been waiting. Everyone had been waiting. David stood up, his face stricken.

“Maybe it’s for the best”. “Just for a few days until you’re feeling better”. “I’m not sick,” but even as I said it, I could hear how I sounded. Desperate, unhinged, exactly how Megan wanted me to appear.

“We can do this voluntarily, doctor,” Nichi said. “Or we can petition the court”. “Your choice”. I thought of Lily alone with Megan for three days. But fighting would only make things worse.

I had to be smart. Had to play their game. “Fine,” I said, forcing myself to sit back down. “But I want to see the documentation”. “All of it”.

As Dr. Nishi spread the papers across the desk, I began to see the full scope of Megan’s plan. Emails to family members expressing concern about my mental state. Appointments with therapists I’d never seen. Even a prescription for antisycchotics I’d never taken.

Somehow filled at our local pharmacy. “This prescription”. I pointed to it. “Check with the pharmacy”. “They’ll have video”. “I’ve never picked this up”. “Denial is common”. Dr. Nichi said gently.

“David, has she been taking her medication?” David looked confused. “I I thought she was”. “Megan said she saw her with the pills”. Everything led back to Megan. Every lie supported by another lie.

A web so intricate that pulling one thread would only entangle me further. “I’ll go voluntarily,” I said finally. “But I want Jane to watch Lily, not Megan”. “I’m afraid that’s not possible”.

A new voice said from the doorway. A woman in a suit entered, briefcase in hand. “I’m Miss Gabriella Chen from child protective services”. “We’ve received some concerning reports”. My blood turned to ice.

“Reports from who?” “We’ve had multiple calls about erratic behavior, unfounded accusations against family members, and potential harm to your child”. She pulled out a tablet, showing me the call logs.

“Your sister-in-law has been very helpful in providing documentation”. “Of course, she has”. I laughed, but it sounded hollow even to me. “Don’t you see what’s happening here?” “She’s setting me up”. Miss Chen’s expression remained neutral.

“We have to investigate all reports”. “Given the circumstances, we believe Lily should remain with family members while you receive treatment”. “Which family members?” Though I already knew the answer.

“Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Megan have graciously agreed to provide temporary care”. The room spun. Everything was falling into place exactly as Megan had planned.

But then I remembered something. “The insurance investigator,” I said suddenly. “He saw the search history on her computer”. “Tom saw it too”. “Ask them”. Miss Chen made a note.

“We’ll certainly look into all aspects of this situation”. “In the meantime, let’s focus on getting you the help you need”. They were all so sympathetic, so caring, so completely under Megan’s influence.

Jane appeared in the doorway. Her face stre with tears. “Mildred, I’m so sorry”. “I didn’t know you were this sick”. “Megan showed me the emails, the texts”. “I thought I was helping”.

“Jane, please”. I grabbed her hands. “She paid you $60,000”. “Why would she pay you if I was really sick?” Jane’s eyes darted away. “She said it was to help with my loans so I could focus on helping you without financial stress”.

Even now, she was protecting Megan or protecting herself. “Where’s the investigator?” I asked desperately. The insurance investigator who was at the house, Tom, stepped forward. “He left, said he needed to review some documents”.

“But Mildred, he agreed”. “The signatures looked authentic because she forged them”. “Mildred”. David’s voice was firm now. “You need to stop”. “You’re making things worse”.

I looked around the room at their concerned faces. My husband, my friend, the professionals who thought they were helping. All of them convinced I was having a breakdown.

“Fine,” I said quietly. “I’ll go, but I want to talk to a lawyer first”. “Of course,” Dr. Nichi agreed. “We can arrange that once you’re settled”. They led me to a small room to pack a bag under supervision.

As I folded clothes with shaking hands, my phone rang. “Megan, put her on speaker,” Dr. Nichi instru. “Hi, Mildred”. Megan’s voice was warm, concerned. “I just want you to know we’re taking wonderful care of Lily”.

“She’s napping now”. “had such a big day playing”. “Megan,” I kept my voice steady. “I know what you’re doing”. “I know you’re confused right now,” she continued as if I hadn’t spoken.

“But we’re all here for you”. “Family supports each other”. “Like you supported Tyler, Emma, Mikey”. There was a pause. When she spoke again, her voice had a slight edge. “Those were tragic accidents, Mildred”.

“I know grief can make us look for someone to blame, but the daycare”. I interrupted. “Your daycare was shut down 3 years ago”. “What happened there, Megan?” Silence then. “I don’t know what you’re talking about”.

“I’ve worked at Sunshine Academy for 5 years”. “That’s not true”. “Check the records”. I said to Dr. Nishi. “Her daycare was shut down after a child nearly died”.

“These delusions are quite elaborate,” Dr. Mcnichi murmured, making notes. Megan sighed on the phone. “I’m going to let you go now”. “Focus on getting better”. “Lily needs her mommy healthy”. The line went dead.

As they processed my admission, I overheard Tom in the hallway arguing with someone on the phone. “No, I don’t care what the lawyer says”. “I signed those papers under false pretenses”. “What do you mean it’s too late?” He saw me watching and quickly walked away.

The psychiatric ward was exactly what you’d expect. Sterile walls, locked doors, and the constant feeling of being watched. They took my phone, my belongings, everything that connected me to the outside world.

“Visiting hours are from 2 to 4,” the nurse explained. “Your husband said he’d be by tomorrow”. That night, I lay in the narrow bed staring at the ceiling. Somewhere out there, my daughter was sleeping in a killer’s house, and everyone thought I was the dangerous one.

The next morning, brought group therapy and medication I pretended to take. I had to play along. Had to convince them I was getting better. It was the only way back to Lily.

During art therapy, another patient, an older woman named Gabri, sat beside me. “First time?” she asked quietly. I nodded. “Word of advice,” she whispered, pretending to focus on her painting.

“The faster you admit you’re sick, the faster you get out”. “Fight them and you’ll be here for months”. “But I’m not sick”. She gave me a sad smile. “Neither was I”.

“But my son needed my house for his new family”. “Amazing what a few doctor documents can do”. My blood ran cold. “How long have you been here?” “Six months”. “I’ve stopped fighting”. “Easier that way”.

That afternoon, David came during visiting hours. He looked exhausted, conflicted. “Lily’s okay?” He said immediately. “I checked on her this morning”. “Did you see her?” “Actually see her”.

“Megan sent photos”. “She’s playing, eating, seems happy”. “Photos can be old”. “David, you need to physically see her”. He rubbed his face. “I tried”.

“Megan said Lily was napping and she didn’t want to wake her, but she promised I could see her tomorrow”. “She’s isolating her”. “Don’t you see that, Mildred?” He pulled out his phone, showing me more texts. “Look at these messages you sent me”.

Look at the dates. I studied them carefully. The language was almost right, but not quite. Little phrases I’d never use. Concerns I’d never expressed. “Check the metadata”.

I said urgently. “These are fake”. “Someone with tech knowledge could stop”. His voice was sharp. “Just stop”. “The doctor says this is part of your condition”. “Refusing to accept reality”.

“The reality is that our daughter is in danger”. “From who?” “Megan?” “The woman who’s been nothing but supportive who’s taking time off work to care for Lily while you’re here”. “She quit her job weeks ago”.

“Both of them did for their Europe trip”. “Remember?” David frowned. “No, she’s still working”. “She told me she’s using her vacation days”. Another lie.

But pointing it out would only make me look worse. “Please”. I grabbed his hands. “Just test the brownies”. “Have them analyzed”. “If I’m wrong, I’ll accept everything”.

“I’ll take the medication, do the therapy, whatever they want”. He wavered. I could see it in his eyes. Some part of him still believed me. “Okay,” he said. “Finally, I’ll check”.

But when he came back the next day, his face told me everything. “The brownies were gone,” he said quietly. “Megan said she threw them out after you left”. “Said she didn’t want them to spoil”.

Of course, she did. “But I did find something odd”. He pulled out his phone, showing me a bank statement. Large deposits into Tom and Megan’s account starting three years ago, right after Tyler died. My heart raced.

“David, those are insurance payouts”. “Check the dates against the deaths”. He was already scrolling. “There’s one here from 11 months ago, Emma, and another from last November, Mikey”.

His face had gone pale, but “that doesn’t mean”. “these could be from anywhere”. “Inheritance, work bonuses”. “You know they’re not”. He stood abruptly. “I need to think”. “I need to”.

He paused at the door. “Don’t tell anyone about this”. “Not yet”. That night, I couldn’t sleep. David believed me. Or at least he was starting to. But would it be enough? And would it be in time?

The next morning, Dr. Nishi called me in for a session. “Your husband called”. “He’s concerned about some new delusions you’re experiencing regarding bank statements”. My heart sank. He’d told them or someone had made him tell.

“He said, ‘You’re creating elaborate financial conspiracies now'”. “This is a concerning escalation”. “I’m not creating anything”. “Those deposits, Mrs. Mildred, I’ve spoken with your sister-in-law”.

She explained that those deposits were from a family trust. “Her grandmother left money for the children’s education”. “The timing is unfortunate but hardly sinister”. Every avenue I tried, Megan had already blocked. She’d thought of everything.

“I’d like to increase your medication, Dr.” Nichi continued. “And I’m recommending we extend your stay 2 weeks minimum”. Two weeks. Lily would be dead by then.

That afternoon, no one came during visiting hours. Not David, not Jane. No one. The nurse said my visiting privileges had been temporarily suspended due to my agitation. I was completely cut off.

That night, Gabriel slipped me a phone during dinner. “Ten minutes,” she whispered. “That’s all you get”. I didn’t ask where she’d gotten it. I just dialed David’s number with shaking fingers. “Hello”.

But it wasn’t David. It was Megan. “Where’s my husband?” “Oh, Mildred”. “David’s had a little accident”. “Nothing serious, but he’s at the hospital”. “Seems he lost control of his car”. “Brake failure”. “Can you imagine?”

My blood turned to ice. “What did you do?” “I’m taking care of everything”. “Don’t you worry”. “Lily’s here with me, safe and sound”. “Though she has been asking for her mommy”.

“Poor thing doesn’t understand why you abandoned her”. “I didn’t abandon her”. “You”. “The courts might see it differently”. “Mental instability, psychiatric holds, a history of delusions”.

“David and I have been talking and we both agree Lily needs stability right now”. “David would never”. “David sedated, ‘Dear, but don’t worry”. “I’m sure he’ll agree with whatever’s best for Lily when he wakes up”.

“If he wakes up fully”. “Head injuries can be so unpredictable”. The phone slipped from my numb fingers. Gabriel grabbed it quickly, deleting the call history before slipping it away. “Breathe,” she instructed.

“Guards are watching, but I couldn’t breathe”. David was hurt, maybe dying. Lily was alone with a murderer, and I was trapped in here, labeled as crazy, while Megan dismantled my life piece by piece.

The next day brought news that confirmed my worst fears. Tom visited his face grave. “David’s in intensive care,” he said. “The doctors, they’re not sure if he’ll make it”.

“Megan’s been amazing, staying with him around the clock”. “She’s even arranged for me to have temporary guardianship of Lily if he couldn’t finish”. “Tom,” I grabbed his hands across the table. “Listen to me”.

“Check your bank records”. “Check the insurance policies”. “Megan’s been”. “Stop”. He pulled away. “Just stop”. “My wife is at the hospital with your husband caring for your daughter and you’re still spreading these lies”.

“The investigator saw the search history”. “You saw it, too”. “Accidental ingestion, custody after parent death”. Megan explained that she was researching for a parent at the daycare who was going through a custody battle.

She showed me the emails. More fabricated evidence. Always one step ahead. “Your daycare was shut down”. I tried one more time. “3 years ago, a child nearly died”.

Tom’s face darkened. “That’s enough”. “Megan warned me you’d escalate the lies”. “She said you’d say anything to hurt her because you’re jealous of our happiness”. “Tom, please”.

“I’m filing a restraining order,” he said, standing. “You’re not to contact Megan or come near Lily when you get out of here”. “It’s for everyone’s safety”.

After he left, I sat in the visiting room, numb. Every move I made tightened the noose Megan had placed around my neck. That evening, Dr. Nichi had more bad news.

“I’ve been in contact with the court”. “Given your husband’s condition and your current status, emergency custody has been granted to your brother and sister-in-law”. “Number”. The word came out as a whisper.

“You can’t do this”. “It’s temporary”. She assured me. “Once you’re better, once David recovers, everything can be reassessed”. But I knew better. Megan didn’t do temporary. She did permanent. Fatal.

“I want a lawyer,” I said. “Of course, I’ll have the social worker arrange”. “No, I want my own lawyer, not someone you choose”. Dr. Nichi made a note. Always making notes.

“That can be arranged, though it may take some time”. “The holiday weekend is coming up”. Holiday weekend. I’d lost track of time in here. How many days had passed? How many days did Lily have left?

That night, I made a decision. Playing along wasn’t working. Being calm wasn’t working. Maybe it was time to be exactly what they expected. The next morning, I refused medication.

I demanded to see Lily. I screamed about Megan being a killer until they sedated me. When I woke up, I was in restraints, but Gabri was there mopping the floor. “Stupid move,” she muttered.

“Now you’ve given them reason to keep you longer”. “I need to get out”. “Only one way out of here fast,” she said quietly. “And it’s not pretty”. I looked at her, waiting.

“Attempted sewers lied”. “They ship you to the medical ward”. “Security’s lighter there”. “easier to slip away during a shift change, but timing is everything”. “And if they catch you, I’ll never get out”.

She nodded. “Your choice, but that little girl of yours, how much time does she have?” “Not enough”. “Never enough”. That night, I made my attempt. Nothing fatal, just enough to get transferred. Pills I’d been hiding, taken all at once, but not enough to do real damage.