As the chaplain entered the gas chamber he figured he had a pretty good idea of what was about to happen; he’d seen it many times over the years he’d served as chaplain for the prison.  This condemned man had never asked to speak with him before, never attended a single service.  But today, the last day of his earthly life, he had expressly asked to see him.  It was a little different this time than most occasions though.  The meeting with the chaplain was the man’s only request, no last meal, no visit from kin, if he even had any, nothing.  He only requested that after he was strapped into the chair the chaplain come to him and that they be given 10 minutes before the cyanide was dropped.  It had the chaplain a little curious but he was fairly certain the condemned man wanted to confess and ask for forgiveness before he paid his debt with his life.

The man sat silent and still when the chaplain entered the chamber.  “Would you like me to close the door?” asked the chaplain.

“Yeah, that’d be swell” he replied.

The chaplain closed the door most of the way and turned back to the man.  “I am here for you, son, as you asked of me.  What do you want?”

“I did it, you know.  Hell, that’s the first time I ever said it.  But it’s true.  I did everything they accused me of,” the man said, “and I needed to tell you.”  His words were cold and totally void of emotion.  It was like speaking to a ghost, a man that was already dead.  The chaplain began, “I see.  And you

need for me to –“

“I need for you to shut up and let me finish,” the man interrupted.  His voice had a much bolder tenor now.  He had something else he obviously needed to get out before his time on earth expired.  “Like I was sayin’, I did everything they said.  I beat ‘em both.   I tied her up.  I cut him and I killed him.  And I made her watch everything I did to him.”