Chapter 1779: Thousands of things
[Short Flashback: Penny’s First Life]
"Penny." Grace leaned closer to the bench, eyeing her warily. Penny had some serious bruises on her cheeks and under her eyes, but compared to how she looked before, she was already recovering.
"I heard your execution date is set," Grace said casually. "What do you feel?"
Penny smacked her lips and gave her a deadpan stare. Grace could be blunt—insensitive, even—but then again, everyone had already heard. Around the yard, inmates on nearby benches were all sneaking glances her way.
Even Heart—the inmate who never spoke and was covered in burns—was watching her with concern in her eyes.
Penny exhaled deeply, propping her elbow on the table.
"Nothing," she said flatly, almost sarcastically. "What do you expect me to do? Sulk? Cry a river?"
"My life’s been shitty from the start," she added with a shrug. "It’s a horrible life, and I fucking hate it."
Grace narrowed her eyes, trying to see if Penny was just putting on an act. But there wasn’t a shred of fear in her. Nothing. It was like Penny wasn’t talking about her own death, but someone else’s.
"I know you’re screwed up, but aren’t you even a little worried?" Grace asked.
"What’s there to worry about?" Penny shot back, glancing around at the other inmates. Then she laughed—a dry, hollow laugh—and shook her head. "They’re going to kill me, and that still won’t change anything."
Because long before her execution date was set, Penny had already felt dead inside. Even before she was incarcerated, she had merely existed. And behind these stinking prison walls, she had tried to survive, but found no reason to live.