It's amazing how that one word carries such an impact. My stomach dropped clear out of my body. If I had eaten recently I would have spewed. I was afraid for myself and Sareh. I glanced over to my daughter. she had fallen asleep, cuddling the dolls protectively. I asked my next question calmly, "What's going to happen to Sareh?"

"She has the same sentence," came the answer I was afraid of hearing.

I couldn't even form a response. my throat closed up and I grasped desperately at James. Holding onto him tightly, I cried there, wept for myself and my child. How could something like this happen? We were innocent.

"Is there any way to save her?" my voice sounded dead even to my own ears.

He gave me a loaded look, filled with an emotion I couldn't identify, "I'm trying to get you out of this. Trying to find a way out, but my mother and the Constable are fighting me. They found you with the broach in your pocket, and the driver claims you beat him up so he was defending himself. They added assault to the theft and claimed that Sareh was an accomplice in the whole thing. You're to be executed tomorrow."

"This really is a hopeless situation?" I laughed humorlessly.

"Asho, don't give up. everything is going to end up alright. I'm sure someone will take Sareh and keep her safe. As for you, if I can't save you before death, you have my word that I won't let you stay dead."

I didn't understand half of what James had said. He said Sareh would be safe. That was the most important to me. But, save me after death? That didn't make sense.

He sat next to me on the cell bench and stroked my hair. I curled up into his safe warmth. All my worries melted away under the gentle touch of his fingers. Before I knew it I was sleeping peacefully.

Waking came slowly the next morning. A part of me decided they couldn't hang us today if I refused to admit that the day had come. I knew I was being delusional, but it seemed so much better than the reality of the situation. The truth was plain and simple: we were going to die. Me, Sareh, were both dead. Unless a miracle happened and James Porter was able to pull through, somehow, we were guaranteed to be with my mother by nightfall.

The constable came and got us midday. He had a stern look on his face when he turned to me, but when he looked at Sareh, his gaze softened. T hat look alone told me all I needed to know. Sareh would be alright. If the man who kept us here is this sympathetic, there would definitely be someone in the crowd of onlookers who would take her in. There was no chance for me. How often do you hear of people adopting twenty-three year old men? I know the statistics, and let's just say they're not in my favor.

"Time to go," he spoke gruffly. He let me pick up Sareh and then tied my hands in their position around my child. In that manner I carried her the short way from the jail to the gallows in the center of the small town. "Haven't seen this many people at a public execution in a long time," he was trying to make small talk. It was a very poor subject choice if you ask me. I didn't reply. Not taking the hint he continued to prattle. "You sure pissed off the wrong people. What I don't understand is that Mr. Porter. Ye'd think he'd be up in arms over someone like you stealing from his Momma, but he seemed more upset that yer scrawny ass was being executed. Yeah well, to each their own."

We pushed our way through the large throng of bystanders. The town wasn't very large, but everyone seemed to be present. Even some outsiders were here to watch. Must have been Mrs. Porter's acquaintances. Once we got to the gallows I was told to stand near the support beam and wait. After taking Sareh from me they tied my wrists to the wood and set her next to me. She had been quiet all morning. I glanced to her and saw silent tears rolling down her face. This was killing me. She shouldn't be here.

The people there watched with bated breath. Their excitement was freaking me out. How could anybody be excited to see something like this happen. It was one thing to hear about somebody being put to death. It was another entirely to see it happen. The constable stepped forward addressing the crowd. "Now, I know you're all here to see a hanging," the crowd cheered "but the executioner is running a bit late. He'll git here 'round six tonight. S'if I was you, I'd go about my business 'til later en then we'll have ourselves a nice little show," most of them left at that news. Some muttering about having to wait, others angry that the constable couldn't just get rid of us. Every once in a while there was a quiet whisper of pity.

After most of the people were gone an elderly woman walked up to me. She was dressed finely, her face powdered and hair done up all fancy. Definitely a respectable member of society. "Young man, I have a question to ask you," she stated. her voice quivered with age, but held more strength than someone half her age. "Did you do it?"

Sorrow exploded from me and I pushed it all into the on worded answer I directed back at her, "No," and now the tears were back, flowing down my face.

"Thank you," she said and left. What the hell was that? I didn't care enough to think about it. I had more important things to worry about. The evening was drawing nearer and still Sareh and I were going to die. James Porter had yet to show his annoyingly happy mug and I wondered if I'd see him or if he decided to leave us.

I started paying more attention to my surroundings when the people started coming back. First it was a trickle, a few here and there, but as id grew closer they flooded the area, surrounding the gallows from all sides.

There was a tug on my wrists. I was being untied, led over to the noose. It was fitted around my neck. Next to me the same thing was happening to Sareh. Jesus, God, it was happening. They were reading out Sareh's crimes. She was going first. I didn't know what to do. Was there anything I could do to save her, to keep her alive. The executioner's hand went to the lever. "Unhand that lever," a strong voice bellowed. The man jumped back as if burned.

Walking up to the platform was the old woman from earlier. "This child will be in my custody from now on," she commanded. There was a definite "or else" tagged on the end there. She undid Sareh's bindings and picked her up.

"Thank you," I whispered. At least Sareh would be okay. This was a good woman standing in front of me. She brought my daughter close enough for a hug. I couldn't embrace her but her little arms wrapped around me tightly.

"I love you Daddy," sobbed the little girl.

My teary reply was the same, "I love you too, baby girl. Behave for the nice lady. She's going to take care of you while I'm away." My heart shattered into a million pieces and littering the platform. It was stepped on by the executioner as he came over to the lever by me. he was grumbling about how he better get to kill one person today, after they made him get out of bed.

They read my crimes. The seconds seemed to drag on and on. Time passing slowly as I waited for death to greet me. The sun was long since setting, maybe they'd wait until then to finish me. It would hopefully be quick. just needed to break one bone and I'd suffocate. I was hoping for a massive break that would kill me instantly.

I saw somebody pushing their way through the crowd. It was James. Sareh saw him too. I heard shouting. Frantic voices. Sareh screamed, "Mr. Porter, Mr. Porter! Save Daddy."

"Asho," he yelled.

The hangman pulled the lever.

"Asho, no!"

"Daddy!"

There was immense pain. My neck.

I knew no more.