Fatal Choices - For Andrea

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    You always see it in t.v shows and movies, when someone is sentenced to death they go quietly as if they have accepted their fate, and I've never questioned that. But right now, as I walk into death row about to interview a woman who has always claimed that she was innocent, who was fighting this to the very the end of her days which would very likely be by weeks end, I begin to wonder.
    “I didn't kill him, I loved him! How can you people believe I did this! I want justice for his death! It will not be with my death!” She screamed as she was being moved from her cell to the interview room.
    I composed myself before walking into the interview room. I was starting to second guess why I had accepted this case. Partly because I was hoping I would be able to see some sort of tell-tail sign to let me know that she was lying. That she killed him. Stabbed him thirty-seven times in cold blood. 
    Don't think about what she did Tames, get in there, ask your questions, and get out. That's it. That's all. This will get you that raise.
    I turned the knob to the room, took a deep breath and put on my serious face.
    “Hello Ms.Tate, how are you feeling? Hopefully we can get this story in tomorrow and get some public opinion. Put some presure on the right people.”
    “Thank you, this means a lot to me. I can't believe they still haven't caught the man who killed my Elijah.” She sounded heart broken, she sounded like she was telling the truth.
    God, the jury system was in place, their was enough evidence that twelve people thinks she's guilty.
    “So let's go back to that night three years ago?"  
    “It was our three year anniversary. I had just got off work, and was walking home,   
Eli was working late, and I was going home to get dressed. I had this beautiful red silk dress that shined when the light hit it. I had been saving all year for it. And by God I looked amazing in it.” She took a breath. “And then I walked into the house, and the smell of bleach almost knocked me off my feet.” She took a moment to compose herself.
    “We can stop for a moment if you like.” I said.
    “No I can’t. I have to finish it.” She took a drink of the water that was on the table. I noticed the sweat pouring off the glass as she took a drink.  “I walked up to the bedroom, thinking that Eli was surprising me by cleaning, it stunk but I was so shocked that the house was clean that I was walking up stairs with a smile on my face. And then I walked into the bedroom, and there it was. And in that moment everything changed, it was like I was being pulled to the center of the earth. And being boiled alive. My world was over. I walked over to him, he was just laying there, and the blood was soaking the sheets. It wasn’t a candied cherry red that they show in the movies, it was a dark almost black red - it could of been a burgundy wine that spilt, but I knew better. It was the lifeless Eli under it, with his eyes open and the life drained out of them that did it for me. I broke down right there, and walked up to him. In retrospect that is whats killing me now. If I didn’t have that urge to go to him and close his eyes, and hold his still warm body against mine, I wouldn’t be here right now and his killer would be behind bars.
    “I laid there for days. Not getting out of bed, not moving, just holding my darling, wishing I could die there too. After two days of neither of us showing up for work, the police were called and they took me in for questing. And I never left. For the next two years I was in and out of court rooms. It was all a blur, I wished they would have looked harder for the person who did this to him, to us. I have no idea who would have done this.
    “I’ve sat in a cell for three years and I still haven’t the slightest clue who did this.” She said.
    I dabbed at the tears forming in my eyes, either she was the earths best liar, or even worst she was telling the truth. I haven’t a clue what one was the truth and that was the scariest part.
    “Is there anything else you would like to say?” I asked her, hoping that there was something that would let me know she’s lying. Because I was starting to believe her. My own questions were nowhere to be found in my mind.
    “No, that’s all. He’s the love of my life, I didn’t kill him. I don’t understand how people believe I did this.” She said.
    “Thank you. I’ll try to get this out as soon as possible.”
    “No, thank you.” Damn it she was polite too! This wasn’t getting any easier. And I stood up and knocked on the door to get a guard to let me out.  

Six Days Later.
    I walked into the viewing room as I saw Tate walk too her death. My article did nothing and now I felt horrible because I believe her to be innocent.
    The executioner, asked Tate “Any last words?”
    “I will not go gently into that good night.” She breathed. “I did not kill my Eli, I want justice. I love you Elijah, I’ll see you soon my love.”
    And the needle broke the skin of a women I believe to be innocent, putting her to her death.