Nomira did not know what to say in response. You’ll be able to do no more for me by staying right now – but if you go down the passage and hide!” “Then leave me,” said Nomira in a hushed voice. “I don’t know,” I began, as the sound of their boots and voices grew steadily louder and their lights fell on the corridor. “Y-yes, I g-guess so,” I began, stammering a little and nervous. “You could get in trouble for this, Lavinnia, couldn’t you?” she asked as they came closer. “Then you don’t work here? You aren’t supposed to be here? This isn’t part of your job?” I tried to squeeze her hand gently and reassuringly and I smiled at her. I had my hand through the bar and Nomira’s in mine, and I felt her hand shake. I had just passed the food and water through the bars when I heard the sounds of hard boots on the ground. I came early the following morning to bring Nomira food and water. No human being! No matter what the person had done! But I’m not even sure I cared about this so much as the fact that I loved her. No human being deserved to be kept in a dark, cold, and dirty cell, or to be tortured, or otherwise abused. It was unendurable to me the thought of what might be done to her – what probably would be done to her! I loved her. I had to find out what would be done with her afterwards and where she would be kept. I had to find out when her trial would be. I had to do everything I could for Nomira. I looked into her eyes and smiled as I passed my gifts through the bars. I don’t think she knew that I didn’t work at the prison and that it wasn’t my job to give the prisoners food and water. When I gave the water and food to the woman, I don’t think she knew who I was. A few hours later, I came back with water and food. I saw the hole into which they threw the woman, and I crept away. I freed myself from the arms of the crowd, just behind the troop of soldiers, and followed them down the street. It would not have even mattered whether the accusations were true or not. It would not have mattered of what she was accused. She was a fellow human being, and I saw and felt that in my heart, and loved her. I saw the captive they dragged with them in irons. Somehow I found myself near the front of the crowd as all of us moving through the streets made way for the soldiers coming down the street.
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