I was in jail.  I had been convicted of murder and of course, I was guilty.  The day of the trial arrived.  I stood before Judge Justice as I was sworn in.  My attorney, JC, stood beside me as the prosecutor arrived.  Her name was Lucy.  She was the best, most convincing prosecutor in the business.  Her “victims” always acquired the death sentence.  The only problem was, I knew Lucy also.  I had met her about a year ago.  She introduced me to my former girlfriend.  With her help we got together, but as time went on, things got bad – my girlfriend no longer satisfied me as Lucy talked to me about everything I was missing out on.  Ironic isn’t it? She introduced me to her, but then it was Lucy that caused me to be unsatisfied with her.  I started cheating - all the time.  I could never get enough – nothing could ever quite fill the void in my life. This dissatisfaction caused a lot of tension between me and my girlfriend. This led to many angry fights.  Eventually, as I continued going to Lucy when I was upset, she surprised me one day.

She told  me my problems would all go away if I killed my girlfriend.  I would feel better about cheating, and I would be free from all ties, of course, it was for her better in the end so she wouldn’t have to find out what I had done.  “Think of the satisfaction you will gain”  Lucy told me. “No one will ever know what you did, you’ll save her pain, you’ll save yourself embarrassment.”  I was wary at first, but she persisted and eventually I believed her.  I was hungry for satisfaction but I never seemed able to grasp it.  This, I thought, would fulfill me.  So, one night, after a particularly bad fight, I returned with a gun.  Ever since that day, I have lived in fear, that I will be caught.  I continued with my affairs, constantly wanting more, but never being able to quench the thirst of desire.  My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach every time my former girlfriend would cross my mind as well as every time I left to see on of my “friends”.   I never did receive the fulfillment that was promised and Lucy seemed to have deserted me in my misery.  Now I stood in the room with her.  Through the trial, I saw clearly who Lucy really was.  She had deceived me to bring about her own purposes, she had promised me happiness and satisfaction, and it never came.  She had wanted my girlfriend dead, and she had planned it from the very beginning.  Now as she made her case before the judge, I realized how many areas I had failed in.  I was worthy of death.  “All rise” I stood, JC at my side. Lucy had presented un-refutable evidence. There was no hope.  Judge Justice walked in and stood in the front of the court.  “A descision has been reached” …I held my breath… was there any way out?  “The defendant is…guilty”  My heart sank as I heard the words.  “The punishment is death.”  The room shook with the finality of his words.  I began to sink in defeat when beside me, a voice spoke up.  “I will take his place”  Alarmed I looked up.  JC walked toward Judge Justice.  “I will take his place” he spoke again.  Unable to believe my ears I listened breathlessly.  “I accept the exchange.” Judge Justice looked at me, his eyes piercing deep. “You are therefore declared righteous, you may go”  All the while, Lucy looked on in  defeat.  You had been set free, she could no longer claim you as a trophy.  Speechless I looked up at JC with questions in my eyes.  “I love you” he said reading my eyes “and this is how much”  He put his hands behind his back to be cuffed and was lead out of the room.  -----C.R.

 -        based on a true story.  The names were changed.