Corby is notified through the intercom that he has a visitor. He and four others—Angel, Praise, a Sikh man, and a teenager—line up for their visits, talking as they wait. Corby learns that Praise, or Cornell, is Lester’s son, and he notices a self-inflicted cut on the teenager’s arm. He tries to talk to the teenager, Solomon, but Solomon rejects the kindness.

The inmates are let into the visiting room, and everyone else’s visitors enter while Corby sits alone watching the others. Corby notices how the visitors are women and reflects on his father’s history of making excuses. Emily enters, defensive and upset. They talk about Maisie, who has been having behavioral issues, and about Emily’s new co-worker, Evan. Solomon is loud and sobbing, and Emily says she talked to his stepmother and learned that Solomon shot several dogs at a pound. Corby asks if Emily wears her wedding rings and if they will stay married, but she avoids the topic. She also avoids talking about therapy.

Emily blames her defensive anger on Piccardy, who sexually harassed her by suggesting she take off her bra when she kept setting off the metal detector. This infuriates Corby, but Emily asks Corby to leave the situation alone. Corby asks Emily to bring Maisie for a family picture, but she refuses.

Solomon starts yelling and is dragged away, and the visiting session is ended early. Corby and the others go through the routine strip search, then return to their cells.

Kyle Piccardy was transferred to Yates, which is headed by his uncle, Warden Zabrowski, after impregnating a female inmate at his last place of employment. Piccardy is on duty with his friend, Anselmo, when Corby runs into them. Piccardy threatens Corby with a ticket and goads him by talking about Emily. Corby threatens to write up Piccardy for harassment, and Piccardy encourages him, then sends him to chow. Corby snaps at Manny and Angel when they ask what happened.

Corby is called to Cavagnero’s office, where Piccardy is bragging about his low body fat percentage. After Piccardy leaves, Cavagnero offers Corby a spot on the grounds crew with the caveat that he mentors Solomon, who is also being placed on the work crew. Corby suggests Praise might be a better mentor, but Cavagnero says he isn’t asking, insisting, “If you want the crew job, you partner up with the kid” (228). Corby agrees, and Cavagnero tells him that Solomon is content to work alongside him.

That night, Piccardy and Anselmo do a surprise inspection in Corby’s areas of the cell, ruining the drawings he made for Maisie, antagonizing Corby, and destroying the bags of water he had been using as weights. The officers leave, and Manny warns Corby not to retaliate. Corby dreams about hitting Piccardy.

Corby enjoys working on the grounds crew and finds he sleeps better at night. Cavagnero has arranged for culinary students to supply lunches, and Corby gets along with the others on the crew, although Solomon has not yet joined them.

Corby writes to Emily, thanking her for pictures of Maisie and drawing supplies and describing a book about giraffes he wants to write for Maisie. He tells her about mentoring Solomon and about calling out Piccardy. He asks about therapy and expresses his fear that Emily will leave him: “I’ve always needed you more than you needed me—I admit that—but I hope it doesn’t mean you don’t need me at all’” (236). He suggests they could move away when he is released, and reminds Emily to change the oil in her car.

Emily responds, writing while Maisie and Betsy are out. She hasn’t changed her oil, but she plans to. She also says she talked to Solomon’s stepmother, Adrienne, after their visit at the prison. When Betsy and Maisie return home, Emily stops writing and picks back up later that night. She informs him that her dad and stepmom separated, and she says they will not be moving. She starts to talk about therapy but then writes that she fell asleep and woke up the next morning. She continues her letter on Monday morning, writing that she has been working with Dr. Patel on her anger and that she has spoken to a divorce lawyer, but plans to stay married to Corby at least until he is released. Emily addresses her love for Corby, writing that she often looks at old pictures.

Solomon joins the grounds crew a couple weeks after Corby. Their first assignment together is to rake fallen leaves. Solomon does a poor job and refuses to wear gloves. Cavagnero checks in with Corby and tells him Corby will be held accountable for the quality of Solomon’s work. Solomon avoids the other crew members at lunch, keeping his distance and eating only a cookie. Solomon’s work ethic is worse in the afternoon. At one point, he stops to watch a mother turkey.

After work, Solomon asks Corby about the library, explaining that other inmates have sent him to wrong locations on purpose when he has asked about it before. Solomon also admits he is being bullied by other inmates, showing Corby bruises on his back from being surrounded and shoved. He also says his cellmate, Daugherty, is offering him legal advice. Corby warns him against trusting Daugherty and against writing up the inmates who have been harassing him. He offers to escort Solomon to the library the following Saturday. Solomon says he likes science fiction books.

Solomon isn’t at work the next day, and Cavagnero says it’s because Solomon’s hands are covered in blisters. The next day, Solomon is late and complains that Corby should have woken him. He struggles carrying and spreading grass seed, snapping at Corby, who encourages Solomon to try harder. However, Solomon doesn’t turn away from the others at lunch. After eating, he and Corby return to their work area and find turkeys eating the grass seed. Solomon fixates on the mother turkey and her chicks.

Corby calls Emily, and she expresses concern over his mother’s marijuana use. They talk a little about Evan, then discuss Solomon. She tells him Solomon is Wequonnoc and was placed in foster care after his mother lost custody of him. According to Adrienne, Solomon has always been “difficult,” engaging in “Lying, stealing, violent tantrums” (251). Emily reveals Evan changed her oil for her and that she and Maisie are taking him out for pizza in return. Upset, Corby asks pressing questions but is cut off when the call reaches 10 minutes. He returns to his cell and asks Manny for a band-aid because he accidentally cut his thumb while on the phone. His thoughts begin to spiral before he goes to sleep, and he has a sexual dream.

The grounds crew’s work is canceled due to rain, so Corby reads Native American Genocide, motivated by learning Solomon is Wequonnoc. He reads through the introduction and parts of the book, pausing on a story about brothers and wondering how Maisie is coping with Niko’s loss. He then reads about the Wequonnoc genocide and reflects on the racism he has witnessed in Yates: “The ratio of Black and Brown prisoners to Caucasians; the white supremacist assholes who try to recruit other whites for the race war they’re sure is coming; the length of Lester Wiggins’s sentence” (257).

Solomon waits outside Corby’s cell Saturday morning, and they walk to the library. On the way, Solomon asks what Corby did to get imprisoned, but Corby doesn’t answer, advising Solomon not to ask questions like that. When they reach the library, is it being renovated and Javier announces they are closed for reading; however, inmates are allowed to check out books. Corby talks to Javier and Mrs. Millman while Solomon looks for books.

Mrs. Millman helps Solomon find the science fiction book pile, and Corby tells her about Solomon. He selects a book in the A Game of Thrones series and Eragon. As he checks out, Mrs. Millman tells them the library will be getting a computer, though it will not be connected to the internet or have modern games. Mrs. Millman also tells Corby that some people are attempting to secure a compassionate release for Lester, who is terminally ill.

On his way out, Corby sees a pile of free books and takes a few, including an art book and a book of Buddhist quotes. They are followed by Javier, who pulls Mrs. Millman’s razor blade from the books Solomon borrowed. Solomon is suspended from the library. When Corby scolds him, Solomon begins to cry. He screams at Corby, “At least I didn’t kill my own kid” (265), and runs away.

Corby returns to his cell. He wants to avoid ruminating about Solomon, so he reads Dr. Patel’s letter, then looks through the free books he grabbed. While looking through the book containing images of mythological art, Corby is drawn to Landscape with the Fall of Icarus. As a child, Corby related to Icarus, but as an adult, he relates to Daedalus, Icarus’s father who gave Icarus the wings that allowed him to fly too close to the sun.

Corby listens to owls and reflects on the first time he saw his dad hit his mom and on a night he was forced to clean mud. While he hasn’t heard from his father, he has heard from his aunt, who has sent him multiple Christian books. To banish thoughts of his father, Corby works out, a routine which has improved his anxiety.

Corby attends an AA meeting where everyone is required to share. He says he is worried he won’t be able to find a job or save his marriage. A new member, Frank, speaks next. He tries to give advice to Corby but is stopped by the group leader. He finds Corby later to tell him not to confuse hope and expectations: “If you expect things to happen a certain way and they don’t, it can clobber you like a Mike Tyson left hook” (273). Corby listens but is annoyed. Returning to his cell, Corby reflects on his father’s reaction to his mother’s agnosticism. While, like his father, Corby is not religious, he resonates more with his mother, who eventually left Corby’s father.

At work on Monday, Solomon asks an annoyed Corby to return his library books and check out others, since he is banned, and he points out that he was on time for work. Solomon announces that he has to go to court the following day. Corby is worried because court days are exhausting, but he doesn’t say anything. They get to the barn and find that Piccardy—along with new CO Goolsby—has replaced Cavagnero as leader, as Cavagnero has been injured in an accident. Piccardy separates Solomon and Corby, even after Corby explains they are supposed to be working together. Piccardy ignores him and brings up Emily, and Corby is sent to clean the muck under a hedge alone.

The inmates are given a hurried and disappointing lunch, and Corby notices Solomon is missing. He finds him and learns the men Solomon has been working with have been bullying him. Corby warns Solomon about how hard court days are, and gives him advice for getting along with the other inmates. When Corby asks the other crew members to be nice to Solomon, they mock him but concede. Corby returns to his hedge but, when no one is looking, he runs to the river, taking a small white stone from the water before running back. He runs into Piccardy, who tells him to sweep the barn when he finishes cleaning under the bushes.

Work is canceled the next day, and Corby is called into Counselor Jackson’s office. While there, he talks to her about being separated from Solomon on the grounds crew, and Jackson agrees to look into it.

Solomon is upset when he returns from court and mentions death by suicide. Corby stops him, giving him the stone he pulled from the river to keep overnight. He tells Solomon to get some sleep and to come to work the following day. Solomon listens, coming to work the following day and returning Corby’s stone.

Piccardy announces that the grounds crew will spend a few days scraping the old paint off the barn. Solomon and Corby are assigned to work together. Corby sends Solomon to lunch while he finishes a little work, and Piccardy approaches, angry that Jackson spoke to him about having Solomon work with Corby. Later, Manny warns Corby to be careful, saying, “‘Piccardy has a ten-pound chip on his shoulder where you’re concerned’” (291).

The next day, Piccardy and Anselmo leave Goolsby in charge while they separate themselves to do drugs. They come back, and Corby and Solomon see Piccardy pepper spray, then kill the mother turkey. Solomon charges the officers, and they fight back until both Corby and Goolsby intervene. Piccardy threatens Corby to prevent him from reporting the incident. Corby is sent back to work while the three guards leave with Solomon. Corby follows them and finds them torturing Solomon, forcing him onto his hands and knees and commanding him to howl like a dog. Disturbed, Corby intervenes, first getting the guards’ attention, then grabbing the dead turkey and sprinting inside to Jackson.

Jackson first helps Corby recover from a panic attack, then they discuss Piccardy. She warns him that filing a complaint will likely not help. Jackson says she believes Corby, but she cannot help him because she fears losing her job. She tells him that he might have better luck reporting the incident with the turkey rather than the incident with Solomon, and she says she can help Solomon get medical attention and a psychiatric evaluation. She also says she can dispose of the dead bird.

Corby returns to work but is permanently kicked off the grounds crew. He goes inside but stops to get “Administrative Remedy” paperwork to file a complaint, first asking CO McGreavy, who reads the complaint, to ensure it will not go straight to Piccardy or one of his friends. Back in his cell, he tells Manny what happened, and Manny says he is worried about Corby. He also warns Corby not to submit the write-up on Piccardy, and they argue.

The next day, Solomon’s cellmate tells Corby Solomon never came back from the hospital. Corby finishes the write-up form and submits it. He then hears that Solomon has been transferred. He is both relieved and saddened.

Since he hasn’t heard back about his complaint, Corby writes a letter to the SPCA reporting the animal cruelty. A new, young guard performs a surprise inspection on Corby’s half of the room and gobbles at Corby before leaving. Corby’s anxiety increases as he faces bullying, including threatening notes slipped under the cell door and frequent gobbling noises in the chow hall.

He tries to call Emily, but she doesn’t answer, so he calls his mother. Maisie is there, and Vicki puts her on the phone, though she is too shy to say much. They discuss Maisie and Emily, including Corby’s fear that Emily is seeing someone else. Vicki warns him against fixating on the past, and she talks about her guilt over her marijuana use. Corby stops her, not wanting to take on her guilt, explaining, “‘I’m not taking on your guilt, too. Niko’s death is about what I did that day” (308). They get a one-minute warning, and Vicki puts Maisie on the phone to say goodbye. The call cuts off while Corby is talking, and he slams the phone and kicks a chair, getting scolded by a guard. He has a rush of anger toward Emily for keeping Maisie from him.

Corby struggles to sleep and wakes feeling unwell the next day. He comes across Warden Rickerby leading a group of visitors, and he stops Rickerby to try to talk to her about Piccardy. She refuses to listen, telling him to follow the proper chain of command. Later, he receives his denied complaint and the unsent and opened SPCA letter.

Corby dreams about fishing with a red-haired child, and the child disappears after Corby watches a great blue heron take off. Piccardy wakes him by tapping his shoulder and quietly telling him he saw Emily’s online dating profile. Corby panics but keeps the incident to himself. He lays in bed and realizes that he brought this harassment on himself, reflecting, “I did know better, but I became so intent on making them pay for what they did to Solomon that a kind of temporary insanity took over” (314). He reflects on his father’s abusive behavior, wondering if it motivated him to protect Solomon. Corby talks to Niko. He tells Niko about his fears and is able to fall asleep.

Corby wakes to Manny’s yelling. Someone has put a milk snake in the cell, and he is scared of snakes. He yells at Corby about getting him involved in his issues with Piccardy. Corby catches the snake and releases it outside. Later, he apologizes; he knows that when he was young, Manny was bullied by children chasing him with snakes.

Talking to Manny helps Corby realize the life-long impact of childhood trauma. He admits to Manny that he shouldn’t have filed the complaint and that Piccardy has been harassing him. Manny says he won’t request a cell change, assuring Corby that they are still friends.

Corby is called to the library. He and Mrs. Millman discuss Solomon and Corby’s tension with Piccardy. She has to answer a call, and while she does, Corby looks at the modest tribute to Lester, who recently died, and he gets scared when Javier comes up behind him. Javier apologizes for telling Mrs. Millman that Corby has been being harassed, which Corby admitted in AA.

Mrs. Millman finishes her call and returns to ask Corby to paint a mural on a large wall in the library. Corby is hesitant, arguing he doesn’t have any experience with murals, but he agrees to consider it and brainstorm some designs. His thoughts are occupied by design ideas for days. After five days, he looks through his mythology book and is inspired by Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, which features peasants and daily life, resigning Icarus and his fall to the background.

Struck by an idea, he runs to the library and talks to Mrs. Millman about his idea to paint the land Yates is on but without the buildings. The landscape would feature different individuals living their lives, similar to how daily life is featured in Landscape with the Fall of Icarus. He finalizes his design over the next few days and submits a final proposal. Mrs. Millman pretends they have already made concessions to make the approval process go smoother. Corby explains he is playing with the concept of time travel to explain why the prison buildings will be absent, and the board accepts the explanation and happily approves the design, hopeful the mural will gain them good publicity.

Walking back from the library, Corby comes across Piccardy, who says Solomon died by suicide. Upset, Corby goes to Jackson and tells her. She says she will see if she can uncover the details. He returns to his cell and sobs. Shortly after, Jackson calls and tells him that Solomon is alive.

Corby works on the mural, first tracing a grid on the wall, then drawing the outlines. He calls Emily, who says she is having Evan and Amber over for dinner. She and Evan had developed an attraction for each other, but Emily did not want to pursue a relationship, so she set him up with Amber. Corby is relieved, but he ruminates on the deeper meaning of Emily’s phrasing, “‘it was headed that way’” (334).

It takes Corby 31 days to finish painting the mural. He paints himself standing on a cliff and looking at the prison yard. The mural features several inmates—Lester, Manny, Solomon—political figures, and other important people in Corby’s life, such as Maisie, Emily, Dr. Patel, and an image of a boy in a cocoon with butterflies emerging into the sky.

Rickerby schedules a reception with press for the unveiling of Corby’s mural. Corby is anxious, worried about his crime being brought up. He invites Dr. Patel, Emily, and Cavagnero along with a few inmates, though the inmates’ invitation is denied.

Warden Zabrowski escorts Corby to the library, and Corby hides his discomfort. In the library, Mrs. Millman takes Corby to her office, where her husband, Howie, is “hiding out.” Corby momentarily chokes on a cookie and turns red in embarrassment. The ceremony begins with a speech and the official unveiling. The guests are impressed, though Corby fixates on execution and design flaws, noting “some of the trees are hastily rendered; the sky’s too blue” (340). Mrs. Millman, per Corby’s request, describes the mural and the inspiration behind it.

Corby is uncomfortable with the positive attention. He speaks with a young reporter who tries to focus on the controversial aspects of Corby’s situation and the mural, asking, “is there any getting over a tragedy like that? […] isn’t your painting a protest of sorts? Aren’t you arguing against white oppression?” (343). Mrs. Millman interrupts to tell Corby that Cavagnero has come. Corby stays with Cavagnero for the remainder of the reception and after the party, he thanks Mrs. Millman. She gives him leftover cookies and a poem by W. H. Auden.

As Corby leaves, he is stopped by an art agent, who gives him a business card and suggests he may have work for Corby after his sentence. He is stopped again by a CO, who, despite Corby’s explanations, takes the cookies he is carrying and admonishes him for not wearing his ID, which Zabrowski had told him to remove. The CO lets him return to his cell, where he starts to read the poem, “Musee des Beaux Arts,” but it does not resonate with him. As he falls asleep, he imagines why Emily didn’t show up.

Emily writes, apologizing for missing the reception; she had been at Maisie’s school, as Maisie has been having behavioral issues. She praises Corby, enclosing a clipping of the article about the mural, and she says Vicki is recovering well from knee surgery she underwent.

While returning from an AA meeting, Corby sees Piccardy, who says they are going to paint over Corby’s mural. The experience leaves Corby shaken. To calm his spiraling thoughts, he writes to Emily, responding to her comments on Maisie, the reception, and Vicki, and telling her he spoke to an art agent. While he is able to fall asleep, he wakes in the night because of his anxiety.

The next day, Corby sleeps through breakfast. Manny returns and tells him about a handsome new inmate named Austin, saying, “‘I think I’m in love’” (354). Anselmo and Goolsby harass the inmates on the way to lunch, and Corby reflects on a happy memory of playing with Niko under a maple tree. Boudreaux, who has returned to prison recently, interrupts Corby’s thoughts, having been told to walk with Corby because of the new “buddy system.” Corby eats quickly, correctly assuming lunch will be cut short. Corby tells Austin that it is okay to ask Manny to give him space. Later, Manny comes into the cell with a black eye. He avoids the topic, instead saying that Piccardy’s wife is leaving him.

Corby is partnered with Boudreaux again on the way to dinner. On the way back to the cells, Corby is stopped by Anselmo, who claims Corby has stolen a saltshaker. Manny tries to defend Corby, but Anselmo takes Corby to a storage room, where he performs a strip search and where he rapes Corby with a baton while Piccardy—who is off duty—watches. Corby is antagonized, threatened, and sent back to his cell. As he walks, he feels numb and defeated.

Back in the cell, Corby asks Manny for pain medication, refusing to tell Manny what has happened. He knows he might feel better if he talks but is too worried and embarrassed. Corby requests and is granted permission to shower. He questions if he can ever be forgiven.

Manny worries about Corby, who is skipping meals and has bloody underwear. Corby angrily deflects Manny’s concerns, so Manny suggests Corby talk to one of the prison psychologists. Corby agrees and apologizes, borrowing more ibuprofen. He wakes in the middle of the night, taking more medicine and fantasizing about holding Piccardy and Anselmo accountable. From there, his thoughts spiral. Eventually, he focuses his attention on the sound of the river and is able to fall asleep.

Manny encourages Corby to come to the chow hall, but Corby refuses, also refusing to answer Manny’s probing questions. Later, Corby sees Dr. Blankenship. He tells him that he was raped, and Dr. Blankenship asks several questions. Corby lies, letting the doctor think he was raped by an inmate and that he has been tested for STDs. He also talks about his increased anxiety and insomnia. Dr. Blankenship says Corby can report the incident to the Prison Rape Elimination Act, and he writes him a prescription for a benzodiazepine. Corby hopes he can avoid dependency issues since the medication is prescribed and heavily regulated in the prison environment. They also discuss a plan to wean Corby off well before his release date.

Before leaving, Corby asks why he developed an erection during the assault, and the doctor explains that it is a purely biological reaction and that Corby should not feel ashamed.

Jackson calls Corby to her office and tells him that he is being released early due to a new initiative to lower prison populations. Corby is happy but worried about what will happen with Emily, and he needs to wean himself off his benzo prescription. He calls his mother, then Emily, who tells Corby he cannot move into the house when he gets released. She says Corby must prove he can stay clean, and she cuts the conversation off when Corby gets upset.

Corby tells Manny he is being released early, and he offers to give Manny his remaining personal items, like his TV. For the most part, Piccardy and Anselmo leave Corby alone, and Corby starts weaning himself off his medication himself, as he cannot get in to see Dr. Blankenship.

Corby writes to Emily, apologizing for his anger on the phone. He promises to stay sober, detailing his plans to stay clean and find employment after release. In the morning, he reflects on a line he wrote, “Addicts get to be really good liars” (387). He feels guilty for not telling her that he has been taking anxiety medication, but he justifies it to himself.

The next day, Corby and Manny have visitors. Gloria, Manny’s sister, visits him, while Vicki and Maisie visit Corby. Vicki explains that Emily allowed her to bring Maisie. Corby is disappointed in Maisie’s shyness, and Vicki urges him not to pressure her. A guard points out the children’s area, and Maisie goes to pick out books while Corby and Vicki talk. Vicki says Maisie’s psychologist has been encouraging Emily to let Maisie see Corby to help prepare for Corby’s release. Corby keeps a watchful eye on Maisie, feeling protective of her while she is surrounded by inmates and guards, reflecting, “I’m able to see things through Emily’s eyes” (392). Maisie returns with two books, and Vicki and Corby take turns reading. Maisie starts to open up and talk to Corby before they must separate at the end of the visit.

After the visit, Corby undergoes a strip search which triggers his anxiety. He stops at the medical station for one last dose of his medication to help him get through the panic. Then, he writes to Emily thanking her for letting Maisie come to visit and telling her that, if Emily chooses to divorce Corby, he will accept her decision. He asks if he can see Emily and Maisie the day he is released.

Four days before his release, a guard, CO Whiteley, escorts Corby around Yates for out-processing. He lies to the medical staff when he says he is not having side effects from tapering off his medication. He goes to Jackson’s office, and she describes the release process and gives him the information of his parole officer. He tries to call his lawyer, Dixon, but finds she is no longer employed at that practice.

Corby gives his remaining items to his friends, and he takes the Christian books his aunt sent to give to the library. He passes CO Goolsby on his way to the library, and Goolsby sends him to the mail room, where Cavagnero has returned to work. They talk, and Cavagnero gives Corby a letter from his father, Dr. Ledbetter, sent in 2017.

Next, he goes to the library to donate his books. While there, he says goodbye to Javier and Mrs. Millman, who gives Corby her contact information, and he examines his mural. He says goodbye to Niko’s image.

Back in his cell, Corby reads the letter from his father. Dr. Ledbetter admits he played a role in Corby’s fate, blaming his ego for damaging their relationship. He explains that he has kept his distance because he was jealous that Corby was a better father than him. He offers to come and visit Corby but says he understands if Corby does not want that, writing, “If I don’t hear back from you, I’ll understand that you don’t want me to come” (407). Corby thinks about the letter and is crying when Manny returns.

Corby attends a final AA meeting, which Frank leads. He reflects back with gratitude on Frank’s advice not to confuse hope and expectations, and he thanks the present members for their support.

On his way back to his cell, he is sent to the recreation room by a couple of the kinder guards. Several of the inmates have gotten permission to have a short goodbye party for Corby. Corby is packed and ready the night before his release. As he is going to bed, he remembers that he hasn’t packed his river stone, but he decides to do it in the morning. He dozes on and off for a while, his thoughts spiraling, before drifting off into a deeper sleep after thinking about Maisie.

Corby wakes on the day of his release, both nervous and excited. CO McGreavy checks on him and tells him that Piccardy and Anselmo are on administrative leave pending an investigation. After eating breakfast, Corby returns to the cell and talks to Manny.

Corby’s release process is delayed due to a miscount and a lockdown, and when he looks out the window, he sees Vicki, Emily, and Maisie. After the lockdown is terminated, Corby is taken to a holding cell where he waits for release. He impatiently waits, and he is the last to be called up. He begins the process of release, but his urinalysis comes back positive for drugs, so his release is canceled. Upset, he punches at one guard, missing and accidentally hitting another in the nose.

Officer Garcia, once nice, is now harsh as he removes Corby from the segregation cell he has been locked in. He is taken to Jackson’s office, where he describes his desperation and explains how his urinalysis results were positive because he took a prescribed benzodiazepine.

Jackson then points out that Corby didn’t notify Dr. Blankenship that he had a history of dependency. As he explains, Jackson questions if he is trying to convince her or himself that he has done nothing wrong. He admits that he has made a mistake, but adds, “‘For almost three years I’ve tried so hard in here to get better” (421). Jackson says the guard he punched has to have surgery on her nose, and she tells him that the prison will likely press assault charges against him, which will add more time onto his sentence. She also tells him he will go back to his old cell and that Piccardy and Anselmo have been fired and will likely be arrested.

Jackson escorts Corby back to his cell. He tells Manny about the urinalysis and starts throwing things around the cell, warning Manny to stay away. After, he falls asleep and wakes to find Manny has cleaned the mess. They talk about Piccardy and Anselmo, which triggers flashback memories for Corby. He learns that CO Goolsby was actually an undercover detective who was investigating the abusive officers. They talk about Corby’s failed release, and Manny shows him sympathy, returning the stone and poem Corby had forgotten to pack.

Manny goes to chow, and when he comes back, he talks to Corby about the COVID virus that is spreading throughout the world. Later, they watch news coverage of the pandemic. Manny is anxious, having lived through the HIV pandemic, losing a loved one.

During an evening break, Corby calls Emily. He tries to explain, but she cuts him off and tells him to never call again. She yells at him for killing Niko and hangs up. He snaps at the person in line behind him and returns to his cell. He reads over the Auden poem again, and it resonates with him this time, wondering, “Maybe the poem’s about dying alone…” (432). When the lights go out, Corby begins to wail and tells Manny he has been raped. Manny climbs in bed with him and holds him, telling him, “You’re not alone, Corby” (433).