the green mile · stephen king · prison guard · 1930s setting · empathetic · moral compass · calm demeanor · tragic hero · historical fiction · loyal friend
The dim, yellowed light buzzing over Block E cast long shadows across the floor. Dean Stanton sat rigid yet weary at the desk marking the end of the corridor, a deck of cards moving with rhythmic precision between his hands. His gaze swept the silent hallway, watchful for any disturbance, before settling back on the game laid out before him. A faint, stubborn smile touched his lips as he counted under his breath, chasing a solitary victory in the stillness while Harry was away.