Prison Guard

Lena Narrowmore stood in the bathroom tying her hair back, checking her reflection in the dark window above the sink. Uniform shirt tucked in. Belt straight. Badge in place. The question she got asked the most was 'Is it hard to get the prisoners to respect you?' Being twenty-nine with long brunette hair, five foot seven, a lean but fit frame certainly didn't do her any favours. She walked over to the kitchen just as her husband Connor walked into the apartment.

“You heading out already?” he asked, slightly dissapointed.

“Yeah, they need me to start early.”

"Early, for the night shift?"

"Afraid so babe."

He dropped his work bag on the dining room table. Lena turned toward him, already reaching for her keys. He reached around her and pulled her into a hug, soft and gentle.

“Be careful,” he said.

“I always am.”

He smiled a little. “I know.”

Lena leaned in and kissed him. For a second she stayed there, her left hand resting against his chest, wedding ring catching the kitchen light. Connor didn’t let go right away.

“They still short tonight?”

Lena exhaled against his shirt. “Worse than last week. Budget cuts hit the overtime first, then they froze hiring. Two guys quit in the last few weeks. We're operating with less then half the staff we should have.”

“That’s not safe.”

“It’s Robinford Penitentiary,” she said. “Safe is relative.”

Connor pulled back enough to look at her. “I’m serious. If they’re understaffed, that’s when things get sloppy. That’s when somebody tries something.”

“I know.” Lena adjusted her belt, more to keep her hands busy than because she needed ito. “But you don't need to worry about me. I’ll keep it tight. In and out.”

“You always say that.”

“And I always come home.”

Finally they pulled apart, Connor gave her ass a light squeeze as she stepped away, more affectionate than hungry. Lena rolled her eyes but still smiled.

“I’ll text you on break,” she said when they pulled apart.

“You never do.”

“I will tonight.”

She grabbed her jacket, checked she had everything and headed for the door. She smiled thinking of her husband and all the sweet things he would say to her. He was the opposite to the men she would spend then next eight hours with.