I visited him often with Pearly. But every time I saw him, I felt like I was on the verge of tears. I don't know how I did it, but I was always able to push them back in the end.

…Because, you know, I had to be strong for Pearly.

We often spoke of life at the present, with him drinking his usual cups of blackness.

"The bitterness in this blend is just enough." He said during one visit, commenting on his coffee.

I had never asked him, I had never felt curious about this before, but today was different I guess… "Mr. Godot, why do you like coffee so much?"

"Because coffee is tasty, and warm!" Pearly commented. I suppose she remembers the time Mr. Godot gave her a cup during that terrible event…

I remember that ever since that event, Pearly has always asked Nick for coffee when it was cold.

"Blacker than a moonless night, hotter and more bitter than Hell itself... That is coffee." He said, picking up his mug again. He glanced at my face. "There's life after death you know."

The topic we were discussing changed so suddenly.

"Mystic Maya! What is Mr. Godot saying?"

"Aww… Pearly, he's probably talking about what Mia said."

Our last visit was just a few days before his execution. I couldn't help but shed tears, even in the presence of Pearly.

"The only time a lawyer can cry is when it's all over." He said, looking calm as usual.

I sniffed "I'm not a lawyer."

"I know."

I sighed; I didn't know what to say to him. I felt like I should be comforting him or something, but it became the other way around.

"Death row is but a state of mind." He said casually, as if life was all normal. "I'm sure you know what I mean."

"Of course… I do…" I had said, still tearing up.

"Then stop crying, look you're even making the little girl sad."

"Mystic Mayaaaaa! " Pearl had started crying. "Why does Mr. Godot have to die?"

Oh Pearly, I've always been strong for you and yet this time, I don't know what to say…

"Ahh excuse me… visiting hours are almost up." The guard was saying, cutting through Pearly's tears.

"Oh… right." I said to him "We're almost done here."

In a moment, I composed a straight face, and tried to comfort Pearl

"Oh Pearly… stop crying, I'll get Nick to buy us burgers afterwards."

"B-but Mystic Mayaaaaa! What about Mr. Godot?"

"We could always channel Mia and him, you know, Pearly. We could still communicate…"

I turned to leave, with Pearly still crying beside me.

"You shouldn't mourn about the past over more than five cups of coffee." Godot put in. "That's one of my rules."

"I guess I should make a rule," I said while turning around, my façade cracking. "Never shed tears in front of Pearly."

He looked at me straight in the face, or at least I could feel his intense gaze.

"A lawyer is someone who smiles no matter how bad it gets."

"I'm not a lawyer." I said as I was tearing up.

"I know."

A one shot written from a prompt given to me by Fran.

Death row is a state of mind.

-Ardent Skies '10