Redemption

Chapter XVII

"This court, in agreement with the recommendation of the jury, finds the death sentence the appropriate penalty upon the defendant Renato Henderson," Renato remained calm on his seat as he listened to the judge dictate his sentence, maintaining the same behavior he had from the beginning of his trial, and across the entire process. When Renato was first taken by the police, and located in jail to await for his trial, he was assigned a lawyer, who upon learning the conditions Renato had turned himself in, advised him to proportionate details of the crimes, and evidence of each, to present the court the image of a man who regretted what he had done, and was willing to cooperate, in order to receive clemency, and change what could be a sentence of death, for a life in prison. But throughout the different stages of the trial, Renato's serenity as he narrated the atrocities of his crimes, was misinterpreted with a lack of humanity, and it was what led the court to impose such punishment. It was natural for Renato to remain calm, since he was aware of the process that waited for him after death, and it transformed anything in life insignificant compared to it. And whenever his knowledge of the inevitable, overpowered his willingness to accept his consequences, he remembered the light at the end of the tunnel, and the person who waited for him at the end of the journey, giving him the strength to continue his commitment.

It was only on one occasion that Renato had difficulties to restrain himself from reacting at court. The words of a father, whose vivid expression of sorrow was enough to turn Renato's blood cold, refreshed the memories of Hell into his mind. "Every night I ask for my daughter to come for me in my sleep so I can go to Heaven with her, and whenever I wake up and I find myself alive, I curse the new day, and I curse you for it, because you took away my only reason to live. I wish you to fear for your own life as you await to be executed, and I want you to feel the pain my daughter had to go through in her last moments of life. I hope you receive the maximum punishment in Hell, just like I hope you receive it here on earth. And if I could be your executioner, I would make sure you suffered so much that you would prefer to be in Hell." The father, blinded by his pain, kept cursing Renato, and Renato, feeling genuinely regretful, looked at the man and apologized. But it was his apology that angered the man more, "You think an apology would amend what you have done, that it will somehow take away my suffering!" The man waited to be near Renato as he was escorted back to seat, and surprised the guards as he balanced himself over Renato in an attempt to attack him. But before he could hurt him, he was stopped. The image of the sobbing father on the ground being handcuffed, haunted Renato across the night, as it deprived him of sleep.

Because Renato's pursuit towards Safiye was rather morally wrong than a crime, she was never mentioned in court. Not even when the court dealt with the chain car accident she was mentioned, since she refused to participate in any stage of Renato's trial. It was difficult for her to even picture herself in a room testifying against the man she profoundly loved, or to be seated behind the assassin that caused her so much pain while supporting him. Instead of going to court, she went to the cemetery, and stood in front of the crying angel at the grave of her parents. She slapped her tights as she cried out her rage, and when only pain was left in her heart, all she could do was to apologize to them for bringing their executioner to their deathbed. She cried with the perspective she assumed they had of her from heaven, tagging herself as an impulsive idiot who only kept failing in life, unaware those thoughts only existed in her mind, and that if her parents were alive, with the knowledge they had acquired from heaven, her father would have apologized to her for not seeing her for who she truly was, and her mother would reassure her how it wasn't her fault.

Prior to being sentenced, the judge granted Renato the opportunity to give a last statement, but he declined it and within seconds, received his sentence to death. The judge added how it was unfortunate to see a life full of possibilities, wasted for such poor choices, "Just that dirty business you had with that man was enough to be sentenced" The judge referenced the dark business Renato held with Billy, concluding his lamentation. Renato turned to look at his lawyer, who apologized to him for not being able to save his life as he had planned. Renato gave him a smile and shook his head "My life is a life not worth saving."