I've looked at him for years now
Sitting with naught but a mornful look
He explores his tiny grey cell
With only his eyes
"What do you think about?"
I ask him one day, curious
He looks at me, then looks away
I continue my inspection down the row
"Charged for sexual assault on minor"
I read his file in my curiosity
Disgust fills me, the next time I see him,
I spit on his food as he looks
He eats it just the same
"Her" I hear him say
As I walk down outside his cell
"What?" I ask, having no patience
For a rapist like him
"I think about her" I hear him say
"I hope she has forgotten me
I shouldn't have existed."
"Too late for that," I bite out
"Yes it is." He turns around.
I see the cuts on the back of his arms
I nod righteously, I keep walking.
He looks back at the grey wall
I sit in my office, sipping the tasteless tea
The courtyard alarms blare suddenly
I am out of the doors in an instant
And a pistol rests in my hand
"What the-" I stop. The rapist is bleeding
The other prisoner is held back by the guards
"When are they hanging you?" He shouts
"Take him away," I sigh
"He deserves it!" The assailant shouts at me
"Are you above the law?" I sneer at him
He has the good sense to back down
I hesitate before calling for the medics
The rapist gets up,
He picks up the shovel
And he begins digging
Blood running down his face
"Why?" my question startles him
"I don't remember."
"Why do you continue living?"
For the first time ever, he looks me in the eyes
"I'm not a coward," he says.
"I'm sure that's what she thought too"
He immediately looks away
I leave him to the first aid
"You are not evil," I say as I slide him the food
He doesn't respond
"Today is my last day here.
I hope for your repentance."
"Rape convict commits suicide"
Reads the newspaper headline the next day
I sip the tasteless tea at my home
It tastes very salty today.