Their crimes were similar. They shared the guilt. And Adele knew that no one would ever understand Caroline in the same way that she did.

Chapter 6

Adele was lying on the top bunk in her cell. She was having a good night’s sleep; one of the best she’d had since starting her prison sentence.

It was the day after Caroline had made her revelation and their shared understanding had cemented their friendship. As Adele settled into prison life and made more friends, she was feeling more at ease and sleeping better.

She was currently dreaming about John, her ex-boyfriend. He was often in her thoughts and, even though she knew she would never see him again, occasional recollections of their happy times together could brighten an otherwise dull day.

Her dreams of him were often graphic in nature, too. They had shared a wonderful sex life and she often woke up with a smile following an explicit dream. Tonight was no exception. She murmured as his hands caressed her nipples softly. Then he drew her face towards his, meeting her lips.

As she awoke she could still feel a tingling sensation in her breasts and had a warm glow all over her body. Until she opened her eyes. There, leaning over her, was the pockmarked, manly face of Anna, accompanied by a faint smell of stale sweat. She had drawn her lips away but still had her hands inside Adele’s nightshirt, resting on her breasts.

Adele shot up in the bed, her head colliding with Anna’s. She was battling with a riot of emotions: her initial repugnance at the sight of Anna, disappointment that it wasn’t John, then fury at Anna’s audacity. There was a look of alarm on Anna’s face as Adele pushed her ferociously away.

‘What the fuck do you think you’re playing at?’ Adele yelled, giving Anna another angry shove.

Anna lost her balance and almost tumbled off the top bunk. She found the steps just in time before Adele could throw her off altogether. But Adele wasn’t finished with her yet. She launched herself off the bunk, meeting Anna at ground level. Before Anna could react, Adele rammed into her, pinned her up against the cell wall and slammed her forearm across Anna’s throat.

Adele’s arm was pressed so tightly against Anna’s throat that she gasped for air. She tried to prise Adele off her but failed. Anger was coursing through Adele’s veins. She threw all her weight behind her forearm until it was wedged in place.

‘You fuckin’ cheeky bitch! How dare you?’ Adele yelled as she slapped away Anna’s hands.

Anna was going red in the face as she struggled to breathe, but Adele wouldn’t let up. Her face was a mask of fury as she put more weight behind her forearm until it was even tighter against Anna’s throat.