Gretchen, dressed in an orange prison uniform and restrained with handcuffs and shackles, was escorted into the room by a prison guard. She looked dispirited as she said, “I said I don’t have any family left. Who’s here to see me?”

“She’s right here,” the prison guard responded sternly, pushing Gretchen into a chair in front of the glass window. In a deep voice, he added, “You have ten minutes for your conversation.” With that, he exited the room, closing the door behind him.

In the silence of the room, Estelle and Gretchen sat on opposite sides, their eyes meeting through the glass. They had crossed paths earlier that day...