The Chair

The Chair is a first-person short story which tells the story of a man on death row. The story goes through the final five days of his life, ending with him in the chair. Copyright © 2016 M. Charles

          Day 3650

I can barely remember the days any more, it could be day seven hundred and four or day four thousand. The truth is the days began to blur into a single stretch some time ago, perhaps that's why they call it 'a stretch', or perhaps it's just sick irony - because stretch (my legs at least) is one thing I can't do much of. But, my mind, my mind stretches, and on bad days, this place stretches it, too; it twists me, distorts the world around me, and blends me within the walls.

Today I woke up screaming, drenched in sweat, and surrounded by demons. The demons teased me with the outside world; they made me see it, they made me feel it. And I did, I remember it clearly, it's the reason I woke up screaming and drenched in sweat: freshly cut grass scattered with daisies.

I am long past reviving images of essentials such as fried egg and roasted chicken. These days (or rather, nights) all I have to look forward to is nightmares filled with, what I would have called insignificant memories, but, which now feel grossly critical. The easiest way I know of surviving this hell is to rid your mind of all that was and all that could be. Desires bring only dread, happiness only sorrow, and memories only pain. Instead, I escape, I escape this prison because they will never imprison my daydreams; my daydreams are all I have, they are the only way out.

I have little interaction with other inmates, guards, or otherwise, I have no access to educational or employment programs of any kind, therefore, I hold in my hand, not a pen, and I write to you now, not on paper, but rather, I write to you in my dreams, my daydreams. You see, it's how I stay sane, I write novels in my head, or rather, I wrote novels, but there's little time left, so, I shall write daily logs until the end. I can't remember much of what I wrote before, even in this place, even with nothing else to occupy your time, still, it is hard to keep track, and hard to remember. But, let it never be said that I lost hope - that I gave up. I will never give up. Never.

Reviews

[Kami]

I like that this piece is about time/awareness or lack thereof by the inmate and his survival and not about the reason the inmate is incarcerated. You have humanized the inmate who is experiencing an inhumane existence. Thank you for sharing!

[M. Charles]

You are most welcome, and thank you for reading, so, you like the idea? My idea was to go through the five final days of his life and ending with him in the chair.
Might I add, unless you are very Biblical it's not hard to humanize this, for, death by the chair sickens me, in fact, all studies and facts show that killing by the state does not work. This is somewhat of a moral/social statement, awareness for this grave issue, you know, America is the only place in the first world to still kill by the state. Also, the truth about death row is horror. And, many of them did not even commit the crime. Truly, most prison systems as a whole are wicked, but the chair, or anything of the ilk, I have no words to express this. Although, I will try in the later days when I get around to writing the rest.

Also, I think it helps you connect with him since it's in first-person, I myself don't like first-person for the most part, but here it was needed. Thanks again. :)
And thank you for being like-minded, and actually having a 'soul' on the matter, sadly, it seems, most people don't care. Most people are Biblical.

I hope many more pieces and stories shall be on here soon. I am currently writing a sci-fi gold heist novel. You can check out my Wattpad for more, link below:
https://www.wattpad.com/user/M_Charles

[M. Charles]

You really should read the letters written by Wilde from in prison if you've not already. :)

[Kami]

How about those private prisons as well? Yes, we're a country that allows for-profit prisons and the death penalty. I am a spiritual person, not religious. Regardless of one's affinity toward a religion, right and wrong are generally clear. Yet, our society seems to want to "follow" and not stand up for one another as a human race. Religion is a divider of people- Us against Them, never a WE! Thanks and I look forward to reading more of your thought provoking pieces.

[M. Charles]

Not sure what you are trying to say with regards to your remarks on spirituality and religion, I merely said 'Biblical' which should entail what I meant. I do need sleep, so maybe I am being slow. I was merely remarking upon the nature of all things Biblical, that being, it is not just spiritual, religious, but old, barbaric, and totalitarian, I simply don't agree (based on the facts) with, at the very least, death row and so forth, the notion of 'murder is not just okay - but has to be done if you are killing a murderer' is a strange notion, it has been noted throughout history and even by some very smart men, but of course, I am not saying we should not punish people (although punish is a strange concept, too, a talk for another time I suppose), we get into problems at the other end, as well. But, if I am not mistaken a very famous thinker once said that you Have to kill a murderer. The fact of the matter is, regardless of this notion, the system is beyond broken and ruins, even kills many non-murderous people, again, hitting upon a problem. The fact is Biblical notions of good and evil, black and white, safe and dead fail. It is clear America has many problems, even more so than elsewhere, this is one of the main ones, if I am not mistaken USA has the worst prison system in the world in many ways, and indeed, of the first world. I thought the piece thought-provoking, I am sure it's not the most original idea, but I do try. I do agree, right and wrong are clear to those with a strong moral compass.

I look forward to you reading more, and to us speaking again. :)

P.S: again, I need sleep, so, please do tell me if I made any mistakes here, this surely is slurred.

[Kami]

I was merely letting you know from what context my viewpoint was coming from- spirituality, not religious. Glad to see such passion in your thinking and writing!
Thanks again!

[M. Charles]

I see, well, progress of a kind, as they say. I myself see no reason for religion whatsoever.
Again, you are welcome and thank you. Speak again. Happy writing.