A juvenile inmate shared his meals with a fellow inmate: The elderly prisoner gave him a horrific revelation out of gratitude.
Silence hovered in the cell that day. With both hands gripping his gut, the elderly prisoner sat on his bunk. The guard had been severely punished by depriving him of meals for a sarcastic remark and disobedience.
All day long, all he could think about was a piece of bread. The emptiness in his gut was driving him insane as he sat in the chilly cage and stared at the dreary walls.
His cellmate, a youthful prisoner, took note. He claimed not to at first, but the elderly man’s labored breathing prevented him from sleeping. He only received a piece of bread and an apple for dinner. The child sighed heavily as he glanced at the meal and then at the elderly guy.
He gave him half the bread and the fruit and whispered softly, “Here, take it.”
The elderly guy raised his gaze. There was a glimmer of surprise in them, as if he had long since given up on expecting goodwill. He took the offering, his fingers shaking.
He muttered, “Why did you do that?”
— “Because I understand what hunger feels like,” the youngster answered.
They ate dinner in solitude while sitting on their bunks.
The only sounds that disturbed the silence in the cell were the crunch of the apple and the snap of the bread crust. The elderly man abruptly put down the meal and turned to face his cellmate with a completely different expression: one of seriousness and uneasiness.
— “Try not to sleep tonight,” he murmured in a tone that was surprisingly weighty. Remain vigilant.
With the half-eaten slice of bread in hand, the young prisoner froze.
— “Why? What is happening?
The elderly prisoner then disclosed something horrifying.
The elderly man spoke in a whisper as he leaned closer:
— “You’ve shown yourself to be a decent boy. I also wish to assist you.
“But what’s going to happen tonight?” the child inquired.
The elderly inmate tightened his fists and let out a long sigh.
— “I heard someone talking… Former gang members, a few males from another cell. They seem offended by your argument with them today. I overheard them organizing their plans. To have the door opened for them tonight, they bought off a guard. They want to enter while you’re asleep and beat you until there’s no one left to stop them.
The juvenile inmate became pallid.
– “Are you certain?”
The elderly man nodded, “Yes.” “These men are people I know. They will do it if they say so.
The child tightened his jaw.
– “I appreciate you telling me.”
The young prisoner didn’t close his eyes that night. His mind replayed every sound in the hallway. He was prepared as the cell door slowly opened and the iron latch creaked.
And he was only able to respond swiftly, sound the alarm, drive the initial assailant away, and thwart their plan because of the old man’s warning.
