I trained my eyes on the ceiling, watching a fat, black spider scuttle across ceiling. It stopped in a corner, no doubt deciding whether or not to build its home. Sitting up on the top bunk, I reached out a pale hand to the spider.

Jesse, my cellmate and only “friend”, snorted. “You’re a fuckin’ nutcase, you know that?” Her blue eyes were hard as they watched me. We’d been stuck in Miller County Women’s Correctional Facility together for about two years now. Jesse was in for the attempted murder of her ex-husband. Her case was simple, clean. Mine…not so much.

The spider crawled onto my fingers, exploring my hand. Jesse winced.

“How can you do that, Erin?”

“Did I ever tell you what I was in for?” I replied, ignoring her comment.

Silence.

“I’ll give you a hint: When I was done with my brother and his friends, they never touched another little girl.”

“Assault?”

The spider sunk its fangs into my hand and a blood rose. I giggled, embracing the pain. Jesse cringed.

“Manslaughter.”