The Secret Life of Him

10. Inmate

Floyd went out on a bus with the other inmates from the different police stations. As he thought, he was sent to prison. It was the biggest prison in the country. But Floyd did not mind anymore. It's like he already accepted what happened to him. 

“Fall in line! Move faster!” said the jail guard. 

Floyd sighs. He could hardly walk because of the handcuffs on his foot that were connected to his hands. He looks at the high wall with wires at the top. He saw a sign that it was high voltage. He also saw the big gate made of steel. No one can peek from outside. He saw another gate from their side but he could not see what was inside. It’s not as tall as the front gate but everything is covered too. Though he could hear voices from there. Floyd sighs and tries to catch up to the other inmates. He already went here when they were covering a story of an inmate. Floyd never thought that he would be back as an inmate. 

Floyd stops walking when they reach a building entrance. A jail guard that is bald and has a big body was removing their handcuffs. One by one and then another guard was accompanying them to another room. 

“It was you!” 

Floyd looked at the jail guard confused. He was looking at him smiling while unlocking his handcuffs. “Who?”

“The one on Dukduk. Tsk!” The guard shook his head. “Are you really the boyfriend of Miss Roxane Sandoval?” 

Floyd frowns as he looks at the guard. He shook his head and did not answer him. He couldn’t believe that even here in prison knew about it. Floyd continued walking and went to the jail guard waiting for him. 

“I was just asking,” the guard said, shaking his head. 

The jail guard accompanied Floyd into a room. There are some inmates in line. In front, there was a girl in uniform sitting in front of a table. She was handling the inmates in a box that is on the table. When it was Floyd’s time to get a box, there he saw hygiene kits inside and an orange jumpsuit. 

“This is free for you. You will use the jumpsuit whenever you are going out of your jail room. You can change your clothes now in the next room,” she instructs. 

Floyd nodded and took his box. He went to another line going to another room. There he saw two lines of men wearing only shorts. They were sitting in a high chair and a man was giving them a haircut. 

“Should I change my clothes first?” Floyd asked one of the jail guards guiding them. 

“No. Go there first for your picture.” 

Floyd looks at the other side of the room. There was a line there too. A man went inside a room that was made of curtains. There are two jail guards standing just outside waiting for whoever is going inside. Floyd went there and fell in line. 

“First time?” 

Floyd looks at his back when he hears someone talk. He saw a man with long hair and a full beard. He notices the tattoos on his arms and neck. Floyd nodded. 

“Yes.”

“What did you do? I robbed a market.” 

He looks at him in amusement. “Really?” 

“I had no choice. My daughter needs to go to the hospital. How about you?”

Floyd shrugs. “They want me here.” 

“Who?”

He sighs and forces a smile. Floyd actually doesn’t know what to tell him. He will never admit that he tried to rape Roxane because he never did. But he is here because of that reason. 

“Hey! What are you talking about there? Come here!” 

The two of them look at their front. Floyd immediately went near the curtain and waited for his turn. He looks at the jail guard that is a woman too. She was almost glaring at her, that's why he looked away. 

“I’m Jude, by the way.” 

“Floyd.” 

Floyd saw a man go out from the curtain so he went inside. He puts the box on the table and sits inside. There is black plastic on the table and a basket on the side. He has a file of plastics there. Floyd looks at what’s in his box. There are two jumpsuits and shorts. It’s the same on the shorts he saw that the other inmates are wearing.  He took out the shorts and removed the plastic. He also saw a pack of underwear inside that he took out too. 

“Put the clothes you are wearing now on the plastic and write your name,” said the jail guard outside. 

He followed what she instructed. Slowly, Floyd removes his clothes and puts them on the table. He removes everything, even his underwear. Then he wears underwear and shorts. It was fitted on him as if they really created it for him. 

“We don’t have all the time!” 

Floyd shook his head. He is not liking the woman outside. He moves fast and puts his things on the plastic. Then he writes his name on the white part and puts it on the basket. When he was done, he went outside. 

“Wait for your haircut!” 

Floyd went to the line and waited for his turn. They were all shaving their heads and making them bald. It’s not a problem for him. After his haircut, one guard took his picture again without his orange shirt and pants. Then he took another with it on. Finally, he went out of the building together with the other inmate. They entered the hallway overseeing the quadrangle where the inmates reside. There is a chain-link fence on the side that’s why they can only look at them. 

“Hey!” Jude follows Floyd. “I heard there are gangs here. Are you joining them?” 

“I don’t want trouble.” 

“Trouble? You should go to church, not here. If you don’t want trouble.” 

Floyd smirks. “Why do I have a feeling that you are excited to be here?” 

“You know, Floyd. If you are a druggie and a thief. No one would want you. Even your own family.”

Floyd frowned as he saw a sense of sadness on Jude’s face. He had covered a lot of people like Jude when he was still working. Even some inmates. There are some that you will ask why they were born. But there are some that don’t have any choice. No, he will never agree with drugs or such. Some people just use it as an escape from something they could not do in reality. 

“Hey! Fall in line!” a guard shouted. 

Jude immediately went back to Floyd’s back. They entered three more jail doors that had guards too until finally, they entered the building for prisoners. Fear suddenly crawls down Floyd's chest. It was the same when he entered this place but it is triple. Now, he will not have a guard guarding him as he will enter the cells. Because it was him that will be on the cell now. 

Floyd sighs and tries to calm himself. There are some that are on the cell. They were looking at them in amusement. Some have smirks on their faces. One by one, the guard let them into a cell. Floyd went to a cell with Jude. 

“We are cellmates!” Jude said smiling. 

He just winced as they entered the cell but he suddenly stopped as he saw two more inmates inside. They are on the bunker beds reading a book and the other one is just looking at his front. 

“Only the bed above is available. You can choose where you want,” said the man reading a book. 

Floyd went to the side where the man reading a book was lying. He puts his box above and sits there. He notices the toilet bowl at the end of the room opposite Jude’s bed. There is a sink too and tissue paper. He sighs again as he sees the white pillow and blanket on his bed. It looks new. At least this place is clean. 

“To the new inmates! You will have an orientation at three! Settle yourself now and wait for us to call you!” 

“Guess we will have to study,” Jude said, smirking. “Anyway, I just need to sleep first.” 

Floyd shook his head. He could not understand why Jude looked cool. He does too. But thinking that he is here now. This will be his new home or what. He can’t deny the fact that he feels sad for himself.

Roxane never even visited him while he was still at the station. It looks like she is really erasing him from her life. She never even thought about the sacrifices he made for him. Or at least think of him as the father of Miguel. Floyd lay down and closed his eyes. 

Is this really it? Should I really accept this life? How can this be so unfair? How can you do this to me, Roxane?