Posted by romantic on October 24, 2000 at 17:36:49:
"My Darling Jenny -- I have talked to the officer who'll be in charge tomorrow who seems an honest and trustworthy man despite his allegiance. He says that after we are shot tomorrow, we'll be taken in a cart to the edge of the prison grounds, stripped naked, and thrown in a pit with the bodies of other "terrorists" executed tomorrow. I have offered him the key to my safety deposit box in return for his promise that we'll be placed in the pit side by side, or one atop the other. I know this is stupid -- our insensate corpses will not feel each other's touch and the rabble who throw dirt on out bullet-riddled bodies will not see the beauty of our union. But my soul, wherever it goes, will rest easier knowing we lie together. Even the horror of decomposition is ameliorated by the knowledge that your flesh and mine will slowly mingle in the earth. On the last night of our lives, I should be lying beside you; instead I lie awake, visualizing our nude bodies piled amongst the others. Perhaps they'll throw you in first, and I'll land with my lips kissing the wounds in your bullet shattered breasts. Or perhaps they'll throw us end to end; your hand will caress my foot while your toes brush my cheek. Believe it or not, Jenny, these images give me comfort in my final hours. -- Love forever, Rom"
Now it is dawn and they've come for us. We meet in the hallway that leads to the courtyard where the firing squad waits. It's still cold this early, the stones sting our bare feet and I see your nipples erect against the thin muslin dress they've given you. We are led to a wall and placed about three feet apart. The officer offers us blindfolds, but we both say no. We will look at each other, not at the guns, when the order to fire is given. There are six marksmen; three bullets for each of us I presume. The officer says, "Ready! Aim!" I look at you and your blue eyes have never shone so bright and beautful.The rosy glow of dawn glows in your golden hair. You smile; oh, my girlchild, I'm sorry I brought you to this, yet overjoyed that we will share the end.
"Fire!"
The amazing thing about the moment of death is that everything becomes slow-motion. I'm aware of the impact in my chest, but I'm watching you. In my trance state, I can almost see the bullets enter your body. Two tear your left breast and the third smashes your sternum. The smile melts and blood runs from the sides of your mouth. Slowly -- oh, so slowly -- you sink to your knees, then fall forward, your face looking in my direction, eyes open. I'm now aware of the blood oozing from my chest, staining the light drawstring pants that are all I wear. I try to brace my feet, but they slip under me and my back scrapes down the wall. I sit, then slump toward you. I feel something soft and warm against my cheek. It is your toes. I can push out my lips and kiss the sole of your foot. I feel your toes flex beneath my cheek and know there is still an iota of life in you. I kiss your sole again.
I hear the officer approach. I know he is drawing his pistol. He fires a single shot into the back of your head. Your body jerks, and then I feel your toes slowly relax under my face. The officer steps over my beloved Jenny's dead body. I love you, Jenny, I love you, I love