Ed in Cell Number Nine | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Ed in Cell Number Nine | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jennifer Champion
09/17/14
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I watch as one runaway droplet follows the deep lines in his face. His eyes are red and his face moist from their salty goodness. These aren’t the first tears he had cried in this tiny room. They flow as a result of God’s conviction a few years ago and flowed again when Mary told him she forgave him yesterday. Just after she left he cried many more as I was able to lead him to salvation.

“Ed, it’s almost time. Do you want to talk?” My voice is soft and on days like this, the other prisoners are quieter than usual.

He looks to me as I open the cell door and I can tell from his visage that he is ready. As always when we have our talks, I grab the plastic wastebasket in the corner and flip it over to sit on. Ed is across from me on the edge of his foam mattress with hands folded and elbows resting on his knees. The cell has one tiny window in which the sun can come through; the rays of the afternoon sun hit Ed’s face. The only picture Ed has of Ann is on the window sill. Mary brought it to him yesterday.

“You know she only came because she knew I was going to die today. She didn’t want to feel guilty herself.”

I nod. Ed might be on death row but he’s no dummy. In his former life he was owner of a large and successful construction firm and was married to Mary. Ann was their daughter. He was finally able to tell me the details of her murder as we sat in these exact same spots yesterday afternoon. Through his grief and guilt, he confessed to his part in her death. He is truly sorry for killing his little girl and I believe he would have confessed anyway even if today wasn’t the day he would be electrocuted. Texas doesn’t mess around with child killers; they fry them.

The guard gives me the five minute warning so I reach out with sweaty hands and take holds of Ed’s, I turn them over, palms up and look at them. His hands are calloused from years of swinging a hammer. “Remember Ed that Jesus Christ died for you. The nails were driven in his hands and the blood was let so that you could live. Mary’s forgiveness may not be real. That is between her and God but yesterday you asked God for forgiveness. His forgiveness is always true. Do not fear because by his grace you were saved and by his love you shall live again.”

The tears from Ed’s face drips onto our clasped hands and he leans his head towards mine until our foreheads are touching. We sit like this for the next three minutes or so as I pray and the guard comes and gets us. Ed already said he didn’t want me to walk with him to the execution room so I continue to just sit there on the wastebasket as he leaves. With head bowed, I listen to the sobs around me as each man in his cell cries because he knows his day too will come. Twelve minutes later the lights flash and I stand up. Ed is gone now so but I know I’ll see him again one day.

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