"eat" the word sounds foreign inside my head. 

i haven't spoke in three months. 

i cannot even remember the sound of my own voice. 

my lips are dry, my throat begging for whatever has been poured into my tin cup.

i had to smile for the water.

but the guards play tricks. 

"water is a reward in these times of drought prisoner. you cannot take what you have earned. smile for me."

my hands clenched the bars tight, my knuckles turning white with force. 

i could taste the blood as it filtered through the cracks of my lips

like a thin stream through rugged dry land. 

i drowned out the sound of his laughs, choosing to drip my hands into the water

it made me think of a better time, it made me think of spring

when jezel and i would go down to the river and dip our feet in

most of the water had dried up now

food was scarce

and yet i still chose not to eat

hard potatoes and what i assumed to be a rabbit's foot sat in the pan

tomorrow would be my day out 

a day i could escape the four walls of this prison

only to be thrown into another prison

but not one where you were shackled or caged

servant.

i spat the word out in my mind, eyeing the food from the corner of my eyes

"eat, lyla you have to eat." her voice echoed inside my head

throbbing and throbbing along to the rhythm of my growling stomach

i ignored the tears as they rolled down my face

"tomorrow jezel, tomorrow we will be reunited"