Internment

Layla is led away to the camp holding cell. She is alone in a tiny windowless room with a single cot. In an attempt to calm herself, Layla tries to just breathe and stay strong. Nevertheless, she is despondent: “There is no wishing anymore. No imagining and no pretending. The stars have all gone out. Only darkness remains” (302).

At some point, guards escort her to an interrogation room where the Director waits. He is simmering; spit flies from his mouth, and Layla smells whiskey on his breath. When he talks, it is more like a “deep animal-like growl” (310). He wants the names of her accomplices. He squeezes Layla’s throat when Layla stays quiet. At that moment, another guard, a friend of Jake’s, interrupts and cautions the Director that higher-ups are on their way to check on civil rights violations. The Director releases Layla’s neck, and the guard takes her back to her cell. Along the way, the guard whispers that she is not alone.

Sometime later, guards come back, handcuff Layla, put a cloth bag over her head, and lead her away. As she stumbles along, Layla realizes that perhaps the glorious ideas she had been taught about America may all be lies.