"It'll be three years in August. Four, counting that year we were shipwrecked," B answers. "I'm doing good here. I've had people graduate who told me I helped them do it. Which is how it should be, we're all here for each other, not just whoever we're assigned, y'know?"

But it's still wearing on him, not having anyone who apparently works well enough with him to be actually his to help. Especially as he sees people just arriving get paired up immediately, seeing people who've been here less tim than him graduate their inmates.

He shakes his head a little. He's not here to mope, even if his moping might help distract her. "It won't be like that for you. I'm the only one who's never been paired. Usually it happens in the first year or so, or sooner."