MicroHorror

“Mr. Guttierez? Mr. Guttierez? Over here, please. Mr. Guttierez, my name is James Harmon, I’m with the State Department of Corrections. I have good news for you. Your sentence has been overturned. I can… Mr. Guttierez, please, try to focus, I have a lot of these to deal with today. Your death sentence by lethal injection has been overturned by the State Supreme Court. The death sentence is now unconstitutional in this state. Under the ipso facto precedent of last year, it is also retroactive. You have been chemically resuscitated. Congratulations. Now, that’s the good news. There is some other news. First, this is not a waiving of responsibility. You are still responsible to serve out your time for the state, and that has been reduced to a life sentence. Also, there is a good chance the Supreme Court will overturn this ruling, and you would have to be put to death again. Mr. Guttierez, over here, please. It’s all written down for you in this document. Please sign here that you’ve received it. Now, the chef has prepared a special first meal for you. Sausage and peppers frittata and bacon and toast. I believe that was your last meal as well. Don’t eat too fast: you probably won’t be able to keep much down for a few days.”