V of Swords

There are no last-minute reprieves. No ringing telephone has ever undone the straps on the chair. So – this is the choice. You can die or you can walk out with fire in your belly.
In the cold and clear and bright sunshine he took the back alleys through the riverfront terraces to the centre of the city. That took an hour. It was the happiest hour of his life.
Only the night before, hadn’t she said she wanted him? And before that, hadn’t the gang, the gang, hadn’t they given him the seal of approval? He was a high-flier now, the chimes were sounding and every tree held a grinning Jesus.
Five minutes’ taxi ride from the train station, he faced down destiny; he took care of business, man, he sealed the deal. If God ever smiled, he must have smiled at that. It was over, and all of his friends would live; while they lived, they would live. That was that. That was life. To live in sun and shadow. And to die there.
God yes.