Poussey sits at her usual table in the bustling cafeteria, surrounded by her close-knit group of friends—Taystee, Cindy, Janae, and Suzanne. The room hums with chatter, laughter, and the occasional clatter of trays. Nearby, Red and her girls are busy in the kitchen, serving up lunch to the long line of inmates, their sharp voices cutting through the noise as they keep the line moving. Meanwhile, the guards patrol the room with watchful eyes, their presence a constant reminder of the prison’s strict rules and the need for order.