“I am so tired. Tired of fighting people, governments, my own desires
and needs that have no place in our world, or so I am told.
‘Tired of explaining myself to you. Trying to make you see who I am,
and why I do what I do. I mean, does it really matter? Who are you to
even care? My thoughts are my own and I should not be wasting time
here writing this out for you. Not when tomorrow is such an important
day.
‘Questions. Questions. The lights are bright in this room and I feel like
walking over and turning them off, or even just dimming them, but I am
too tired. My eyes are sleepy and I suppose I had better get this done
first.
‘Who am I to care? Nobody so you tell me … not sure you are right
about that you know. I think I am more than you know. I have more
secrets than I will ever tell you anyway.
‘It started when I was so young. Hey, I was caring and empathic once
you know! I gave a shit about people like you and what you wanted and
then, one day I just didn’t care any longer. Why? Oh, I don’t know.
Perhaps the lies people told, the beltings received, the abuse. Who
knows. One day I did and the next day I woke up and just didn’t.
‘I worked hard though, at hiding it. Do you have any idea how much
work that can take? Do you possibly have any inklings how bloody
grateful I am now to tell you the truth about my feelings?
‘I am getting tireder and really should sleep.
‘You asked me to give you places in the past, names, dates… I can see
you reading this and hoping to find it all out. My past, my dirty little
secrets. Last laugh is mine. I am not going to tell you. Anything.
At all.
‘Shit, so tired. I am going to leave this now and come back to it
tomorrow. I may tell you something then. Just a little something to tempt
you, to tease you, to set you wondering.
‘Yes, tomorrow I may tell you just one secret to make you happy…. see?
I care a little still.”
The prison warden put down the piece of paper he had been reading,
and sighing slid the glasses off his nose and placed them on the table.
He rubbed his brow. Shaking his head he sat down at his desk
“Nothing?” shouted Ben. “He told us NOTHING?”
Charlie sighed again. Now executed they would never learn his
secrets.

Views: 0

Please follow and like us:
onpost_follow
Tweet
submit to reddit
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Maggie Terlecki

It’s interesting the way you write with a twist at the end, because the way we perceive the situation means we react differently. Knowing that the person speaking was a prisoner on death row, may have skewed our thinking and our thoughts and perhaps had not allowed us to see him as a human and perhaps only a monster. But instead, we feel a connection to pain we’ve already had and we feel sympathy and empathy for him. Obviously, doesn’t mean what he did (as we do not know, but being on death row, means it was pretty bad) is okay, but unless a psychopath, it means he was hurt beyond repair. Brave writing. Maggie

Sandi O'Reilly

At first, there was sympathy growing for this person but then in between the lines, I started to grasp and question the mental health of this person possibly. That possibility turned into a sickness of such a severity, that was cause for a death row sentence. Amazing depth of writing and the twist at the end, here, Abbie!!!

Recommended Posts

Poetry-ish

The Palette of Joy

Life is a canvas, vast and free, Painted in hues of serenity. Brushstrokes bold, yet soft with grace, A masterpiece time cannot erase. Art is the language of our soul, Binding hearts to make us whole. In every colour, light does gleam, A living tribute to every dream. Happiness blooms […]

Poetry-ish

By The Sea

As a child by the sea, I lived a game, In winters wild, where the waves would claim The promenade, with a roaring might, Chasing the shops in the fading light. I’d dare the fence, the wave’s retreat, A fleeting race on unsteady feet. Most times I’d win, but once […]

Just life

Twisted Life

Today, something twisted inside me. I rarely check the news—it’s too depressing, and I can’t stop the horrors happening—but today, I did. First story: Syrians fleeing their homes. Next: free pancakes in Manchester. Pancakes and death, side by side. We’re immune now, aren’t we? Bombings, mass graves, murdered children, all […]

Poetry-ish

Two clicks

Oh, I added a plugin, all shiny and new, To count all the visitors coming to view. I clicked and I tinkered, set it up right, Then checked on the app—oh, what a delight! Two visits, it said, a number so small, “Surely more love me,” I thought, “that can’t […]

Just life

A Journey Back to Writing

When I was a little girl, being raised by my grandparents was far harder than most might imagine. Grandparents are often thought of as the ones who sneak you sweets when your mum isn’t looking, or let you stay up past your bedtime. But mine? They were strict. Steeped in […]

5
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x