Clarice hastily brushed the tears from her eyes. She couldn't be seen crying, the women across the hall from her ridiculed any display of emotion.
She couldn't believe he'd been sentenced to death. Even though Crawford had told her years ago that if he was ever caught he'd get the needle, she always believed that he'd get away with another life sentence.
The tears spilled out of her eyes again, she had no control. She wrapped her arms around her legs and cried into her knees, ignoring all the jeers and calls from the cells around her.
Her lawyer had informed her that she would be allowed to be present at the execution. Did she really want to witness the death of the only man, besides her father, that she had ever loved? Yet she knew she couldn't sit in her cell, knowing what was happening and live with herself. She took a deep breath and dried her eyes. She would go and be brave, that's what he would want.
* * *
Five guards escorted Hannibal into the waiting room and left him. He sat in a chair, leaned back and closed his eyes. He had been close to death before, but this time he knew there would be no Clarice to come and rescue him. He wondered if she would come and watch. He took a few moments to inhale deeply. One of the last breaths of air he would ever take…
* * *
Clarice watched as the guards strapped Hannibal in. He seemed calm and distant, the life had disappeared from his eyes. For the first time in her life, Clarice saw him for what he really was, a human being.
Another wave of tears came over her and she didn't try to stop them. She wiped her eyes and watched as the needle went into his vein…
* * *
Two minutes later he was unconscious.
* * *
Five minutes later he was confirmed dead.
* * *
Clarice buried her face in her arms. Her whole body shook as she came to terms with what had just happened. She screamed and heard a ringing in her ears.