Last Meal

"So can it really be anything?" The prisoner asks his executioner meekly.

"Well, there are a few exceptions, of course," The executioner chuckles to himself. "You can't do, like, an all-you-can-eat buffet or any kind of endless-BS, nor something drugged or poisoned that would alter your state of being before the execution. And no, nothing normally inedible is allowed. We don't like folks claiming they will eat an entire bed and take several days just beginning to chew the paint."

The prisoner is silent for a long time, long enough for the executioner to get slightly irritated: "Well, what will it be?"

"I... I can't think of anything..." His voice is hollow, defeated. Something that the executioner has heard for years. Music to his ears.

"In that case," The executioner says, grinning. "it's down to one question: would you like the standard meal, or do you wanna just skip right to the main event."

The prisoner grins back, a bit wider and crazed than the man usually saw. "Who said I want to be over so quickly? I need some time..." His voice grows taut. "I'll just take the standard, sir."

With that, the food is soon served: Medium-rare steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a slice of apple pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert. The prisoner savors each and every bite, wondering why his mind had been just so blank when he was talking to his killer.

Maybe it's because I've finally met my match, he thinks, looking down at the shackles on his wrists and ankles. It's been so long since I've been challenged by someone, and now, that's going to be a last of mine too.

He actually feels dread when he finishes that last bite of pie, the first human emotion he's had in a while.

"So this is it," The prisoner whispers to himself, as he is led to the execution room and his tray gets taken away. "My last meal, and now my last moments. I didn't even choose something special..."

But that made him realize: he had brought himself down to earth. Taking the same meal so many others had gotten, despite having done the most unique of crimes.