Shadowwolf:  Dramatic conclusion!  Thanks to all the WONDERFUL reviewers and readers!

Brad:  She'll kill me!
Shadowwolf:  Shut up!  Sorry, I wanta get this done so, this'll be fast, but thank you!  Disclaimer:  I don't own anything I mention.  Don't sue.  Please, please enjoy!!!!

CONFUSION OF THE HEART AND MIND CH.8,

DEATH IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

-THE MUMMY

            Brad blinked his eyes twice, and squinted at the calendar.  January 21st.  Three more days.  Time to start on that letter to Naomi.  Brad stood up and stretched, then looked between the bars of his cell to see the time.  6:37a.m.  Wow, they make you go to bed earlier than I thought…

            At seven, a bell was rung for breakfast.  Cold cereal and a piece of fruit.  Not as bad as it could've been.  Brad was surrounded by criminals.  He corrected his thinking later, other criminals.  After breakfast, they took showers in tiny stalls.  Next, they were taken outside to play basketball.  They took showers again, "Anything to keep them busy!" the warden had said.  Next, they were given an hour and a half of personal time in their cells.  Brad knew just what to do.

            Or at least he thought he did.  He began to write his letter to Naomi, but didn't know how to say what he wanted to.  He explained right away about being in jail, and dying in three days.  He told her how he hoped she was doing okay.  Ninety minutes went by extremely fast when writing, Brad soon found out.

            At 6:30 they ate dinner.  Mashed potatoes, ham, and green beans.  Not Brad's favorite, but also not the worst.  After dinner, they were given phone time, twenty minutes max.  Brad called the hospital right away.

            "Romeo City Hospital, emergency department, hello?" it was the same lady from yesterday.

            "Hi, it's me, Brad Hunter again."

            "Oh, hello Mr. Hunter.  Will you be calling here every night around eight?" she said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.

            "Well, until the 24th."

            "Why's that?"

            "I'm on death row.  That's my scheduled day."

            "Oh, I see…well, here to check on Miss Fluegel I suppose?"

            "Oh yes.  By the way, what's your name?"

            "Me?  My name's Jennifer."

            "Nice name.  It's nice to talk to you Jennifer."

            "Thanks, I'll go find out the situation with Miss Fluegel myself."

            Brad waited patiently until, "Mr. Hunter?"

            "Yes, you can call me Brad."

            "Oh, Brad, your companion is now given a 53% chance."

            "Really?  That's great news!  Thanks so much!"
            "That's what I'm here for.  Can't wait to hear from you again tomorrow, I always have this shift.  I'll be ready with a report when you call."

            "Thanks." He hung up and returned the phone to the man, who went about his business.  Wow, 53%…I guess I was fooling myself, that's really not a whole lot better than yesterday…but at least it's more than 50/50.

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            Again, when awake, Brad checked the calendar.  January 22nd.  Two more days.  The routine went a bit differently this time.  Same breakfast, showers, basketball.  But instead of ninety minutes of free cell time, they had to do public service.  To make it worse, it was a busy highway, and people laughed and poked fun as they went by.  Brad had the mind to throw a bag of garbage at a car a few times, but luckily held back.  Instead, he took out his anger by stabbing his stick into litter.

            They got back at six, had dinner (potatoes, ham, and green beans again), and got phone time.  A sad and stressed voice answered.

            "Romeo City……Hospital…hello?"

            "Jennifer?"
            "Yeah…"

            "What's wrong?" Brad automatically assumed the worst.

            "Oh, just…this little…little girl…she was…hit by a car…...the doctors couldn't save…her…" her sentence ended in tears.  Brad heard whispering as another nurse offered to take this call, but Jennifer refused.  "I'm sorry…it's just…so sad…"

            "I understand." Brad remembered the little girl again.

            "Anyway…I'm sorry, but I didn't get Naomi's report.  I'll…go…get it now…"

            Brad sat and thought about the tragedies of the two little girls.  Jennifer came back pretty fast.

            "Okay…she's been moving a little more in her sleep, so she's got motion.  Doctors still give her a 53% chance."

            "Good.  Thanks a lot Jennifer."

            "No…no problem.  Sorry about breaking down on you.  I should be more professional."

            "You're only human."

            "Yeah…" she sniffed, "thanks Brad.  Talk to ya tomorrow?"

            "Sure thing.  Bye."

            "Bye." The man took the phone and went on.

            "LIGHT'S OUT!" shouted a guard, and lights all over the prison went black.  As Brad settled into bed, he remembered the little seven-year-old girl, and grieved for the little girl lost that day.

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            The breakfast bell rang and woke Brad.  A quick glance to the calendar.  January 23rd.  He jumped up and got in line.  The meal today was eggs, bacon, and toast.  As he sat and ate, an announcement came on.

            "Attention, attention.  Mail will be sent out Friday at noon.  Our postman will come around to collect it."

            Brad smiled.  Good, he could get his mail out.  If he got to finish it today.

            The showers were cold.  It turned out okay though, they played a vicious game of football, and were all sweaty and hot.  Even the second time, the showers were cold, but it was more appreciated this time.

--

            "Four o'clock!  All inmates report to their cells for personal activities." The warden announced on the intercom.  Brad happily rushed to his cell.  He reached under the bed to pull out his notepad.  How could he say it?  He sat there for thirty minutes, thinking of how to say it.  Although he didn't think it was the best way, he chose a simple and direct way to get his point out.  If only Naomi would accept it.

            After personal time, Brad waited impatiently through a peace training video for phone time.  By now, he had the hospital's number memorized.

            "Romeo City Hospital, oh, why bother.  Hey Brad."

            "How'd you know it was me?"

            "You always call around the same time.  It would've been embarrassing if it'd been someone else though." she laughed.

            "Yeah, guess so."

            "Well, I was ready this time!  The doctors think she's doing great!  They say a possible 70% chance now!  She was even awake for a couple of times today."

            "Really?  Great." Brad sighed, knowing he wouldn't be alive to see her again.

            "So, will I get a call from you tomorrow?"

            "Probably not.  My time is seven.  We're only allowed to call at eight."

            "I'm sorry.  Well, Brad Hunter, you're an interesting man for a death row inmate."

            "Yeah," he chuckled, "bet I am."

            "I'm glad I met you.  I wish you luck."

            "Thanks.  It was great meeting you, too.  I really appreciate all of your help."

            "……………"

            "Good luck as a nurse," Brad sighed, "thanks again."

            "Bye Brad Hunter."

            "Goodbye Jennifer."

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            Brad automatically looked at the calendar.  January 24th, 2003.  He'd had a dream that this had all been a dream, but according to the calendar, and the cell, it was real.  He had the same breakfast as everyone.  Even the same lunch snack they'd had every day, granola bars.  They went outside to play team handball.  He'd never played it before, but now was as good a time as any to start.  It was a fun game, one that reminded him of soccer with hands, instead of feet.  He was pretty good at it, too.

            The shower was refreshingly cold, and Brad savored every minute of it.  They went to their cells for their personal time, Brad's last.  He finished the letter to Naomi in time to have it sent to the hospital.

            Six thirty came around.  He got to pick his last meal.  It ended up being the entire brew of coffee, with rice and chicken cooked by Jamie.  The team had kind of felt bad for Brad, but had a hard time warming up to him after they found out.  Jamie just wanted to this last special thing for his pal.

            As soon as Brad finished he was directed to 'the room' by security guards.

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            "Mail's here." The postman announced to a hospital worker.  There were four letters to people in the emergency ward.  She went there first, figuring they need it the most.

            "Room 478…" she left a pink tinted letter on a young man's nightstand.

            "Room 483…" this time she left a sloppily written note, done by a child.  The recipient was an elderly lady in bad condition.

            "Room 485…" a get well card from a classroom was set on a child's nightstand.  As she left the room, Jennifer came down the hall.

            "Hey Jen, you know where Miss Naomi Fluegel's room is?"

            "Actually, I do.  I'll just take it there." As she left for the room, she noticed that the name on the 'From:' line was Brad Hunter.  She smiled weakly.  "Room 499," she whispered as she opened Naomi's door carefully.  Naomi was half awake, but happy to see a nice nurse bringing a letter.  "Hello Miss Fluegel.  How are you feeling?"

            "Better…" Naomi answered weakly.  "Who's that from?"

            "A man named Brad Hunter," Naomi perked up, "he claimed to be your boyfriend."

            "Did he?" she was sort of speechless.  "Thanks so much."

            "You're welcome," as Jennifer left and closed the door, a tear ran down her cheek.

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            The strap was tightened more.  One more to go, before he was ready to be shocked into oblivion.  All he could think about was Naomi.  Did she get my letter?  Is she better?  Is she still mad at me?  Why wouldn't she be?  The last strap was tightened.  The workers exited, to watch behind a glass window.  Naomi…  The operator put his hand by the switch.  please forgive…  He flipped it.  me…………

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            Naomi opened the letter carefully.

Dear Naomi,

            I hope you can forgive me for what I've done.  I'm in jail now, but they gave me the death penalty for 7:00p.m. on January 24th, 2003.  I don't know how to explain this, but…you probably want to know why I was sentenced to death.  Well, theft, fraud, they're minor compared to murder.  And I murdered a child.  It was an accident.  During shooting between my gang, the Phoenix, and her father.  She was seven Naomi, seven years old.  And I ended her life.  I don't deserve to live, and I'm sure you agree.  I still hope you can forgive me, for what I did to her, and to you.  Did you know some inconsiderate jerk hit another little girl with his car a few days ago?  She was in your hospital!  She died.  Jennifer, a very nice nurse, was extremely upset.  But don't you see, I'm no better than that man?  He was being careless, like me.

            I still can't think of a good way to put this, so here it is, short and sweet (since that's my life nowadays.)  I love you.  You're a great person, and you only meant well by turning me in.  In fact, I think you would've done the world a favor.  That way I couldn't kill anymore innocent children.  But back to the topic, I really love you.  Even if you don't return the feelings (I wouldn't blame you) I still love you.  Always will.

Love,

Brad Hunter

            Tears streaked down Naomi's face.  She knew she'd loved him all along.  Then there was the issue of the little girl.  He killed a seven-year-old girl!  But it was an accident.  And he was obviously very sorry.  That wasn't an excuse, and she knew it.  January 24th, at 7:00p.m.  She looked over at the clock.  7:12p.m.  He was gone.  Silently, with little more than sniffs and tears hitting her pillow, Naomi laid down to join him.

Shadowwolf:  WAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Naomi & Brad:  YOU KILLED BOTH OF US!

Shadowwolf:  Sorry, I couldn't think of any other way to end it!  AHHH!!  I hope you all enjoyed. *sniff* So sappy…whew.  Thanks for reading!  Credits will be up soon!

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