Waiting for Her Turn

This story follows the point of view of a woman on death row who witnessed her friend going to the electric chair.

The first thing that I noticed when we were transferred to the holding cells from death row was just how cold and lifeless everything was. Not to say that death row was a vacation, but this place is really drab and boring. Concrete floors, grey walls, barely any sunlight….. Even the blankets on the bed are grey. Jessica is in the cell next to mine. Although we can't see each other, we can talk and that’s a lot more than what we were able to do back on death row. She seems to be holding up pretty well. At least from what I can tell. Me? I’m a mess. We have 24 hours to go before execution. Our last appeal was denied last week and tomorrow marks the new execution date handed down from the courts. I stood in my cell all alone gazing round the room. The steel toilet in the corner. I wondered how many times I would have to use that before tomorrow night.

I could hear her sobbing. I began to well up with tears myself. I looked outside my cell from the edge of my bed. I could see the suicide watch officer directly in front of my cell. He was watching them come out of Jessica’s cell. I wanted to run to her. I shot up and grabbed the bars of the my cell and stuck out my arm. I could see her and the guards take a few steps outside of her quarters. “Jessica! Be strong. I’m there for you.” I shouted. Just then the guard shove my arm back into the cell. “Quiet inmate! You’re turn is coming.” He shouted. I inched back up to the cage and peered through the bars to see Jessica be lead down the short walk to the death chamber. Chains dangling between her legs. She was surrounded by three guards forcing her towards the chair. I could view the chair from it’s side and it looks like a grisly thing. I knew that my time was coming and that it was coming soon. For a brief moment, I was curious as to see how this was going to go all down. To be honest, watching Jessica go to the chair fist was sort of relieving. I at least knew what to expect.

The guards lead her into the room and forced her to turn around to face away from the chair as they unbuckled her restraints. Her head remaining towards the floor and quietly sobbing. The guards pushed her gently down into the heavy wooden contraption and began fumbling with the straps. The death watch officer took one look at me. “Yep, it’ll be your turn in a few minutes. Just after we fry this bitch. I heard it only really hurts during the first jolt.” I sneered back at him and continued to focus on Jessica who was now being restrained in the chair by the heavy straps. Two at each leg accompanied by two large wet sponges, two at each wrist, and a harness configuration across the chest and stomach. I could see her shaking. I wanted to run over to her and give her a hug. Just then, one of the guards pulled a bucket out from behind the chair and reached in. He pulled out a soaking wet sponge and situated it on top of her head. Jessica was trying hard to compose herself. Her muffled cries turned into whimpers. Just then, the guards fitted a metal head cap over her skull and strapped a thick leather strap under her chin. My hands started trembling thinking of myself in that predicament. I would soon get mine.

The warden stepped forward and delivered what I only assumed was her last rites. I could’t really hear clearly. Jessica mumbled something back to hm, but it just sounded like she was trying to talk through her consistent cries. The death watch guard turned to me and said, “Yep, won’t be long now. They’re gonna shock the shit out of that bitch.” I retorted with a sneer. “Yeah well…… I….. I can’t wait for them to fry me. I can’t wait to get this all over with.” I said. However, deep inside, I was terrified to death. The guards placed a black leather hood over Jessica’s face and secured it to the back of the chair. I kept my eyes on her the whole time. Her hands clenched the edge of the arm rest. I slammed my fist against the bars and gave out a yell! “Jessica!! I love you! I love you! I will be with you soon!”

Just then, a loud clunking sound came from the death chamber and Jessica’s body tensed up against the straps. Her hands balled up into tight fists and her feet shot upright. It was really sudden. Her chest shot upwards as the sounds of sparking electricity vibrated through the air. Her back arched upward trying to escape from the chair. The loud buzzing sound scarred me even more. It was as if her body had been possessed by some unnatural force. I slowly sank to the floor watching her with in pain. I started crying. “Jessica…… No……”

They shut the power off and her body quickly slumped back into the confines of the chair. I stood back up and fixed my eyes on her. Just then, they turned on the power and her lifeless body sprang into action once again. This time a puff of smoke began emanating from her head. It became thicker and thicker as thy turned up the juice. Just then a large bright spark shot out of the headpiece and the executioner put a stop to the voltage. A couple of the guards ran over and waved away some of the smoke with some towels. The executioner, fearing that he might have botched the execution ran over and examined the equipment. Smoke still hung in the air. It smelled like burnt steak. He called for the doctor to come forward and test Jessica. He placed a stethescope over her heart and counted a few beats. From what I gathered, it appeared that she was technically still alive. They all stood around with the warden wondering what to do. I could tell something was wrong. “Well, we can’t delay this. We have to move forward. Hit her with one more good jolt. That outta do it.”, the warden said throwing his hands in the air. The executioner ran back to his station and flipped the switch one more time where her body once again forcefully shot up agains the restraints. More smoke began to billow around her body as it shook against the vibrating electricity. I had hope to god that my execution would go a little smoother.

Yet again, a bright spark shot out of her headpiece and the warden signaled to put a stop to the execution. After clearing the air, the doctor stepped forward and checked for a heart beat. He nodded in agreement to the warden that she had in fact died during this last round of voltage. The executioner came close to the chair with a pair of heavy cloth gloves and proceeded to release her from her restraints. First the face mask which revealed her lifeless face. It was beat red and sweaty. Blood trickled out from both her nostrils and he lips were encrusted with a heavy layer of spit and foam. Her eyes shut tight. Everyone turned away in disgust. I balled like a little baby. The executioner unstrapped the headpiece and revealed a smoldering knot of scalp and hair. Puffs of black smoke wafted in the air.

I stepped back and fell on the bed where I began to cry into my pillow. I knew that I was next.