Two women were almost always following her around, laughing whenever she laughed and agreeing with whatever she said.
During Maya’s first week, Tasha began testing her.
In the corridor, she deliberately stepped into Maya’s path and forced her to squeeze around her. Another day, she took the place where Maya had been sitting and simply stared at her until Maya walked away.
Maya never reacted.
That was exactly what Tasha wanted to see.
“She’s scared,” she told her friends one afternoon. “Look at her. She wouldn’t even know what to do if somebody actually challenged her.”
A few days later, the inmates were outside during yard time.
Maya was sitting with her back against a concrete wall, away from the main group. She had been given a small bottle of water and a fresh glazed donut, and for once she seemed completely absorbed in something as simple as eating.
