By Philip Scholz
Twenty years on the crime beat, Frank always wanted to witness this. Now, he had to be here.
He watched the inmate gasp as the lethal drugs penetrated his arm.
“Time of death,” the warden announced, “6:09.”
Frank grimaced.
~
Leaving the prison, Frank was approached by fellow reporter Seth, who’d also witnessed the execution.
“Got any comment?” Seth asked.
“No,” Frank growled, resolute.
“Help me out, Frank. How do you feel?”
Frank paused.
“The punk killed my wife for $43. How do you think I feel?”
He walked away.
Tomorrow, Frank would quit the crime beat. It wasn’t the same anymore.
Grim. Raw. Bare. Holding nothing back. ‘He watched the inmate gasp as the lethal drugs penetrated his arm.’ – that was my favourite line.
Gruesome. Sickening. Painful all around. Real life. Well done.
Who could imagine that in so few words, you could encapsulate all of humankind’s emotions?