The dark cloth around my eyes provides false comfort. The illusion of darkness will keep me content. In actuality, they cannot bear the reality of watching the innocent judge them. My eyes are closed, even though I cannot see through the thick fabric. I can envision everyone standing around the gallows in their true form. The creatures around me gather in celebration, for the destruction of what they cannot comprehend. Each one of them knows they could be next, but they revel in the ignorance of momentary immortality. The chanting and heavy breathing quickly fills the town square and pours into the empty streets. Their breathing turns into groans; the tension builds as anticipation rises. The thick rope gently lies on my shoulders; the loose fit is comfortable and inviting. The sound of my stomach churning cancels the outside noise. My last meal was made of rotten animal flesh and maggots. For a moment, the air is still. The ground vanishes. The instantaneous fall feels like years of regret and sorrow. My eyes fill with light as the cloth slightly moves. I watch as my feet violently kick.
