Chapter 1 Signing Up to Be a Prison Nurse

Clara Thomas had just pushed open the front door when a bottle flew at her. She ducked, glass shattering all around her.

When her eyes adjusted, she saw the mess inside. Clothes were scattered everywhere, drawers and cabinets hung open, books piled in disarray on the floor.

"Where's the money?"

Her uncle Samuel was beating her aunt Katherine with his fists and boots. The dull thuds echoed through the house.

Clara had seen this scene countless times, but a chill still ran through her. She gripped the door handle and stayed quiet.

Katherine lay unconscious on the floor, her face covered in blood.

But Samuel didn't stop. Still raging, he kicked her body again.

Clara froze, gasping.

Samuel heard it. He looked up, drunk, swaying as he stumbled forward.

"Hand over the money! Where did you hide it?"

"Did that bitch secretly transfer it to you?"

Clara gripped the handle, torn between staying and running.

She knew there were no savings left. All the money had been squandered by this drunk, drug-addicted, gambling-obsessed uncle. Gambling was his only obsession, and it had destroyed the family.

Samuel came closer, clutching the empty bottle, crushing books under his dirty feet.

Clara's throat tightened. She knew that if he caught her, she'd end up like Katherine.

Watching the menacing drunk close in, she hesitated no longer. She pushed the door open and ran.

Behind her came Samuel's furious cursing, "Little bitch! You must have hidden the money! Stop right there!"

Clara didn't dare stop. The image of Katherine's bloody face pushed her forward.

She ran until the sky went dark, finally stopping at her friend Alice Baker's doorstep.

Alice sat alone by the door, her body covered in bruises.

Seeing her tremble, looking so worn down, Clara's heart ached. She knew Alice had been beaten again.

Sweat dripped down her forehead. Clara sat beside Alice, breathing hard, and spoke softly.

"Did your father hit you?"

Alice didn't speak. She just reached out and hugged Clara tightly, her thin shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

Clara patted her back. In their bleak lives, they were each other's only comfort.

"Clara, what are we going to do now?"

Clara couldn't answer that.

She had lost count of how many times she'd hit complete despair. Was it when her parents died in the car accident? The night Samuel first came home violent after losing at gambling? Or today?

Not long ago, they had both been fired from their nursing internships for reporting their supervisor's sexual harassment.

That job had been their only hope of escaping their circumstances and changing their fate.

Clara took a deep breath, her voice low and weak.

"I don't know, Alice."

"But I know we can't just give up."

"I'm sick of living like this."

"I can't take it for one more day."

They both knew that if they couldn't leave this town, their future was already set. They would marry violent men like Samuel, endure beatings, insults, and financial exploitation, replicating Katherine's life.

Alice wiped her tears.

"But do we have any other choice?"

Clara's throat tightened. She shook her head and helped Alice up.

"Don't think about that now. Let's find somewhere to stay tonight."

They had nowhere to go. They gathered old newspapers and curled up on a park bench for the night.

But this was already the best situation—at least here, they wouldn't get hurt.

Alice limped, her voice full of exhaustion and self-mockery.

"If I'd known it would come to this, I wouldn't have rejected that middle-aged man's advances that night."

"Do you think if I go back and beg him, there might still be a chance?"

Clara didn't respond. She knew desperation could destroy a person's will.

She helped Alice sit on the bench and spread out some newspapers.

"How are your injuries?"

"I'll find some drinking water. I still have a little change—enough so we won't go hungry tonight."

It was all Clara could do.

Alice managed a weak smile. "I'm lucky to have you, Clara."

Clara nodded and took out all the change from her pocket.

Alice had calmed down and picked up a newspaper, scanning the job listings.

Clara was about to go to a nearby convenience store for some bread.

"Clara!"

She had only taken a few steps when Alice's urgent scream came from behind. Clara's heart tightened, and she spun around.

Alice limped quickly toward her and grabbed her wrist hard.

"Clara! We're saved! We really have a chance now!"

"Keep the money, don't buy bread. We need to go to an internet café right now."

Alice pulled her forward.

Clara, startled, reached out to stop her. "What happened?"

Alice excitedly handed her a crumpled newspaper.

"Look, the local prison is hiring prison nurses. Three months of work for a hundred thousand dollars."

"Registration closes tonight. We have to sign up right now."

Clara's first reaction was concern. Such high pay for such short work seemed off, and she worried about the risks.

Alice saw her hesitation and squeezed her hand.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. The results will be announced tomorrow at 6 PM—we don't have to wait long."

"If you're worried about safety, just look at where we are now. Things can't get any worse."

That wiped away Clara's hesitation. Their lives had already hit rock bottom.

They rushed to the internet café and submitted their applications just before the portal closed.

The change in Clara's pocket was just enough for them to come back the next day to check the results.

After registering, they walked back to the park on empty stomachs, their confusion replaced by anxiety and anticipation.

"What if neither of us gets hired?" Alice lay on the bench, looking at the night sky.

Clara laughed lightly. "Then what if only one of us gets hired?"

"That's better than both of us failing. If I get hired and you don't, the first thing I'll do with my salary is take you away from here." Alice reached out and gently stroked Clara's hair.

Clara felt the warmth and answered softly, "Me too."

That faint hope got them through the night.

Clara woke as the sky began to lighten.

Extreme hunger gnawed at her. She picked up the water she'd saved from last night and gulped it down. The brief fullness eased the hunger, but it was still a drop in the bucket.

She struggled until afternoon, the wait making her anxiety swell.

Finally, at 6 PM, they walked into the internet café with anxious hearts.

Clara couldn't stay calm. Her fingertips trembled as she entered her registered email. The moment the results window popped up, she closed her eyes.

When she slowly opened them, Alice's joyful cheering rang in her ears.

"Clara! I got hired!"

Clara looked at her own results, and her heart sank.

She hadn't been selected.