Don Juan

The rolling school bus drove over the gravel road. The murderer sat handcuffed to the seat, trying to appear tough to the guards watching him. Don Juan they called him.

From high up in the air,
the apathetic man is an ant;
ignorant to man.

He arrived as any other would to Leavenworth Maximum Security Penitentary. The state had exercised ultimate control--over life and death, preferring the latter. Not only that, but his last days would be spent in the microcosm of society's demons. Nothing he thought he deserved.

Stripped of any dignity,
the famous man entered prison.
Head held high in denial.

Surrounded by many men, men with guns, Don Juan was reminded of his first college philosophy class-- Nietzsche's Ubermensch. He was not responsible for the consequences of actions he didn't do. Why was Don Juan?

No memories of that night
Well, He denied it in court
No dirty conscience

The seizing of his possessions before entering the prison reminded him of his poor childhood-- ugly memories. His mother was a hard worker and instilled her work ethic into him. That took him from the streets to the helm of a large corporation. After confiscating his items, they took him through the common area to his cell. It reminded Don Juan of a beehive, with vigilant, gazing security () over the drones.

Walking into jail,
Don Juan looked around for
grief or remorse---there was none

His cellmate was called Brando by the inmates, because of his wise demeanor and his rap sheet, consisting of extortion, racketeering and organized crime. Every inmate and their brother would tell you though, that he is a changed man.
Don Juan made quick friends with Brando because of their shared interests of philosophy and business. Don Juan also made many friends over the next year. That year was bad for inmates, as a newly elected Supreme Court was very friendly towards capital punishment. Don Juan's friends fell one after another, soldiers charging an enemy position.

One after another,
his jailed friends went, modern gallows
he admits mistakes.

After seeing the follies of others and more contemplation of the night, Don Juan started gradually to realize his mistake. He became more responsible for defending others, a knight for justice while suffering its wrath.
A new inmate, known only as Child Harold, came in for Grand Theft Auto while intoxicated. He was weak, under confident and scrawny, an easy target. Later that day, a fight broke out at lunch. Harold had stepped on Jack the Ripper's foot and a knife made from scrap pieces of metal and shards of glass was pulled by the Ripper. The guards were in haste, but Harold would be decomposing by the time they would arrive. So Don Juan jumped and the knife pierced both of his palms like a spork through sour cream. Harold was unharmed as Don Juan was rushed for medical attention.
"Nice stigmata," said the medic.
"I'm no Christ," Don Juan replied.

Taking and saving life
Do they cancel out or not?
Numbers can't reflect.

November 24th, 1997. Don Juan woke up for the last day of his life. Each sip of his last drink, a martini (which seemed like it was made from water) on the rocks, get harder and harder to swallow each sip. He was in no hurry to die. He was read his last rites (for time) and was "ready" to die. He gave went out swinging was the needle was injected and died.

Don Juan woke up from that dream like as if nothing happened. He kept having that dream all through prison, but it got less and less frequent as time went by and discovered a new purpose. His execution was scheduled in 10 minutes- 9:10 September 22nd.

9:01- Don Juan is escorted, shackled like the spectacle of a caged animal through the prison common area. Many hats are tipped as prisoners give somber looks.

9:02- Don Juan entered the hallway with monolithic stairs, a gaping cave with no light at the end. He begins to descend into the catacombs of the prison.

9:03- The temperatures depresses as he descends, the floor gets more damp; the only thing decreasing is the noise.

9:06- Don Juan arrives at the injection room, Inferno as some inmates said. Fear not Inferno, Brando said, for Purgatory is the real punishment.
"Are you my Virgil?" Don Juan asked the guard.
Silence

9:07- Don Juan is strapped on in his chair.
"Why would I try to escape the inevitable?"


9:08- The warden arrived for his 67th execution by injection. He watched the serum being prepared. He saw Don Juan's passiveness and wondered why he was so different.
"Why do you not fear death, John Harker?" The warden asked the inmate by his real name. "Why?"
The inmate was not hesitant to reply.
"Look at the name of the man I killed. Hector Harker. He was my father."
"I was drunk because of the death of my son. I went into a violent rage and took my own father's life.
"This is the price I pay."

9:11, September 22nd, 1997. Official time of death for John Harker, also called Don Jaun.

9:15- Cremated and ashes stored in a bureaucrat's filing cabinet. Stories forgotten and memories lost.

What could any man say?
Charged with the prospect of death--
He stood with weeping eyes.