SAMUEL FULLER

What impression do you make on people when they first meet you? People see the size first - I'm tall, broad, blonde. In prison they call me beautiful, though I hate that word. They think I'm dangerous because of what I did to get here, and they're not wrong. Most keep their distance until they figure out I'm more bark than bite these days.

How about after they've known you for a while? Rat says I'm a "moody bitch" but that I'm loyal. I think people realize I'm not as scary as I look - more like a guard dog than a wolf. Eli calls me his puppy, which should be embarrassing but isn't.

Tell me about your best friend. Hailey. She's eleven and smarter than most adults I know. She writes me letters that keep me sane and doesn't treat me like a criminal. She says "bros before hoes" about me and her father, which makes me laugh every time.

What's the most important thing in your life? Keeping the people I love safe. Jenny sacrificed everything for me, and now I have Eli and Nathaniel and Hailey. I'd die before I let anything happen to them.

Your thoughts on love? I thought I knew what it was with Mr. Edwards, but that wasn't love, but sickness. Real love is what Nathaniel gives so freely, what Eli shows in his gentleness, what Jenny proves with her loyalty. It's terrifying and wonderful and I don't deserve any of it.

What are you most afraid of? Losing them. All of them. That one day they'll realize what I really am and decide I'm not worth the trouble.

What was your first thought when you met Eli? That he was impossibly beautiful and dangerous. I knew immediately he'd destroy my peace, and I was right.

What would you change about yourself? My past. The things that were done to me, the things I did. I wish I could come to them clean, without all this damage.

What is your profession? I don't have one. I was in school when everything happened. I write stories now - children's stories mostly, for Hailey. Maybe that could be something someday, though who wants books written by a murderer?

Describe your ideal partner. I never thought I had one until I met them. Someone gentle but strong, who sees past the damage. Someone who makes me want to be better than I am. Turns out I need two people to complete that picture.

Your greatest extravagance? Peanut butter. I hoard Skippy like it's gold. And commissary runs for Eli - I'd spend every penny I have to see him smile.

Is there anything you haven't done that you want to do? Live a normal life. Wake up next to the people I love without bars between us. Take Hailey to a zoo. Cook dinner for Nathaniel. Simple things that feel impossible.

Your quirky habits? I count things obsessively - spoonfuls of peanut butter, days until visits, books on shelves. It keeps me centered. And I save every letter they send me, organized by date.

What quality do you like most in a man/woman? Honesty. Nathaniel never lies to me, even when the truth hurts. Eli's the same way.

What trait do you most despise? Cruelty toward the vulnerable. What The Android did, what Mr. Edwards did - taking advantage of someone who can't fight back.

What do you value the most? Trust. It took me years to trust anyone again, and now that I have it with them, I guard it fiercely.

Favorite food Anything Eli makes. But honestly? Those pancake sandwiches he created with Reese's cups - pure magic.

What would you consider your perfect night out? Just being home with all of them. Maybe cooking together, reading while Eli and Nathaniel work in their garden, Hailey showing me her latest bonsai project.

What would you change about the person you fell in love with? Nothing about who they are. I'd give Eli better health, take away Nathaniel's anxiety. But their hearts, their souls - perfect as they are.

What do you like most about the person you fell in love with? Eli's gentleness despite his size and strength. Nathaniel's way of loving without conditions or expectations.