The prison yard smelled of damp clothes and freshly cut grass.
It looked neater than it did four months ago when I visited my brother, Nate, for the first time.
The furniture was white now, unlike then when it was green. The litter was very minimal and there were more trash cans than before.
'I guess the government decided to look into the prison's affairs.' My older sister, Alicia, said.
I remember she had complained bitterly all through our drive back home the last time we visited Nate. She said the color of the furniture and the walls did not tally.
The entire time I was worried Nate might get sick because of the dirty environment but she cared only for the furniture and walls.
I followed Alicia to the far end of the visiting area. She knew this place more than me because she had been visiting Nate for the past three years.
She knew what chairs were faulty and what part had excess sunlight.
'Does he know we're here?' I asked.
The chairs were lower than they seemed from afar. I had to stretch my legs to be comfortable. It felt like a baby's seat.
'He'll be here in a minute.' She took out her phone and plugged her headphones in. That was her signature 'don't bother me' move.
Alicia and I were never close. She was always away in a relative's house or on some school programme so we did not have the opportunity to bond, unlike Nate and I.
Our mother worked two shifts most of the time after our father left so I spent quality time with Nate.
The door where inmates came from buzzed.
I adjusted my skirt and ran my hand through my hair as though expecting my date.
I looked keenly at the door and was beside myself with excitement.
I had rehearsed in my head time and time again how I would shout and jump when I saw Nate but when he walked in, my happiness ceased.
He had this expression of sadness and anger.
I could not make out what he muttered to the man that walked in with him but they hugged and he started looking around for Alicia and I.
I stood up and waved at him. The area was already full with people so I decided not to shout his name. He saw me and hesitated for a second before walking towards where we sat.
His body appeared leaner than it did the last time I saw him and his hair had grown very long.
He looked very sick. I stretched my arms for a hug but he only patted my back and sat beside Alicia.
I sat down, muzzed. I expected a long warm hug but all I got was a pat.
'Why are you here?' He asked her in a very low tone as if he did not want anyone to hear.
'Your sister wants to see you, big bro.' She put her headphones away and stared blank into his eyes.
'Ally.' Alicia hated it when anyone called her that.
'I told you last time not to come here. These people will kill me.' He spoke normally this time.
I had no idea what they were talking about but Nate's expression was painful to see. His bushy brows curved upwards and his mouth stretched out in an N shape.
'Nate, what your little family here thinks of me is really none of my business. I want to see you. At least pretend you are happy to see me.'
'But I am not!' His high pitched voice ended in a crack.
He looked angry. He looked very angry.
'Fine! I won't be visiting you anymore. Talk to Kassy.' She stood up. Tears welled in her eyes.
Although Alicia was barely home, her bond with Nate never faltered.
They were best friends. Sometimes when she stays away for too long. They stay on a call for hours and hours.
I envied their relationship because I knew I did not have any sibling who was willing to talk to me for that long. They both treated me like a baby.
Alicia walked out.
He sighed. I had no memory of them having a disagreement so intense until that moment. I did not know if going after Alicia was a better idea than staying and talking with Nate.
'Kassy, how are you?' He sounded very uninterested, as though he only asked for courtesy sake.
'I'm okay. How are you?' I could not hold a conversation with him like that.
There was so much tension in the air. It felt as if we were on two opposite sides of a burning bridge and neither of us could do anything about it.
'Ally should never have come here. I tell her every time she visits but she never listens. David, the Lord, wants Ally for himself.' He stared blankly at the frame on the wall that read;
'No Food Allowed In The Visiting Area.'
My mind started to wander.
Who was David the Lord?
Why did he want Alicia for himself?
How did any of it have to do with visiting Nate?
'Who is he?' I adjusted my skirt again.
'The Lord of the prison. He terrifies me, Kassy.
He has his eyes on every woman that visits all the inmates and he has had sex with so many in this very area.
He had his men beat me up because I told him Ally was out of bounds when he showed interest.' He was looking into my eyes.
He looked as though he was holding back his tears. I wanted to hug him and tell him everything was going to be fine but I knew it was a lie.
Nate still had about twelve years jail sentence to serve and lord David did not seem like he was leaving anytime soon.
'I do not want any of my sisters to be viewed as a sex object neither do I want to get beaten and starved everytime Ally visits. This place is the worst.'
Words failed me totally. I could not comfort him in any way whatsoever. I sat there, looking at my older brother, remembering what had caused this entire problem in the first place...