Nancy (part 3 of 3)

Nancy

I better do this while I have the courage

Why do we hit each other? “pffslat,” Nancy spit out the taste of the hot, sweaty, and bloody hallway air. They all looked at her. “You shouldn’t do that,” she said to Galvin. Galvin turned the gun at her and the guards all looked at Galvin. Sometimes we hit each other just to see what happens.  “I’ll tell you what’s not going to happen,” she said. George hit me to see what would happen. “You’re not going to get out of here,” she said warmly to Galvin. 

Warm sweat slipped down her brow and a salty sting made her blink.  When she looked around again the scene seemed different.  I better do this while I have the courage.  She grabbed the barrel of the long gun with her small, slightly swollen, handcuffed hands. She knew she was still negotiating within the stark silence.  And just before she thought negotiations failed and was about to let go she felt the weight of the entire gun shift in her hands. She held tightly and let it swing and settle to the ground.  She turned to Marcelli who was already staring at her and the shotgun.

“How are you here?” She asked desperately as the guards tackled Galvin.

“They shut down the prison and they’re shipping everyone out,” Marcelli said.

“Where?”

“Home.”