Reflections

It was dark on the dock in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. The cool waters of Lake Michigan lightly lapped on the shore. At 4:45 in the morning, the two men stood on the floating wood planks staring off into the calm lake. Behind them was a forested campground barely lit by the coming sunrise. Finally, the sun made an appearance, its rays glinting off of the vast expanse of water in front of them. The light seems to ripple along with the lake, it glints off of the handcuffs holding the men together.  

The man on the left is shorter, stocky, with a bald head, he is wearing an orange jumpsuit and has chains connecting his arms to his legs. His blue eyes shine with the light. A muted smile creeps over his face as the sun crests the horizon.

The man on the right is 6’2” and built. His hair is short in a military cut, his uniform crisp, and his hat straight. He sighs and lights a cigarette. They had been waiting for this, in these chilly woods for over an hour. He looks over at his charge, who doesn’t seem to notice being watched, he appears too marveled by a perfectly adequate sunrise. While he waits, Officer Harden goes over in his head the details of his job. To his left is known killer Frank Gallendo. He was found in his home holding a bloody knife. The same knife that was buried in Frank’s wife and 10-year-old son. Due to Frank’s connections, money, and general good fortune, he was allowed special privileges not afforded to others on death row. So, along with his last meal, Frank was also flown up to Wisconsin to watch the sunrise and sunset. Harden shook his head slightly, rolled his eyes, and took a deep drag on his cigarette. It was going to be a long day.

After the sun had finished its performance, Frank and Officer Harden made the trek back to the car. Officer Harden looks over at Frank and asks, “You enjoy the show?”

“I thought it was beautiful. The perfect start.”

“I guess. Personally, I think you see one sunrise and you've seen them all. But what do I know, I didn’t kill my family.”

Frank mutters.

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t kill my family,” Frank says, looking at his shoes.

“Course you didn’t. And everyone else in jail is innocent too.”

“But I didn’t, I was framed. I found the knife, and before I knew it-”

“You are wasting your breath. There isn’t a damn thing on God’s green earth you could say to change my mind.”

Frank closes his mouth and keeps walking. Every step he takes jangles the chains on his arms and legs. Jingle, jangle. It immediately gets on Officer Harden’s nerves, that noise. In fact, just looking at Frank gets on his nerves. The pathetic old man, with a crap job. He couldn’t get any power in his life, so he had to take away power from those closest to him. Despicable.

Frank looks up from his shoes, “Officer?”

“Yes?”

“Do you believe in heaven?”

Officer Harden stops in his tracks, Frank almost fell on his face from the suddenness of it. He frowns down at the chained man beside him.

“Like an afterlife,” Frank continues, “I hope so. I want to see Gladys and Robbie one more time.”

“So you can apologize for murdering them?” Harden asks.

“Nevermind.” 

Harden chuckles, “I’m sorry but they don’t allow people like you in heaven.”

The jingle, jangle of the chains was the only noise for the rest of the walk back to the cruiser. Harden unlocked the cuffs connecting them together and shoved Frank into the back, slamming the door. Then he leaned against his car and smoked another cigarette while Frank stared off into the distance. 

When Harden got into the driver’s seat, he readjusted the rearview mirror looking Frank dead in the eyes, and said, “Now what? We’ve got quite a few hours before the moon can be seen-”

“Why are you doing this?” Frank asked.

“What?”

“You hate me, but you signed up to be my personal chauffeur for the day, why?”

Harden frowns, “You are a murderer. Despite your crimes, it seems you still hold some sway, and are able to get a nice day out of the bargain. I may disagree with a system that allows that to happen. I may have made it so that I get to watch you die tomorrow. All I gotta do is make sure you have one happy day in Wisconsin, of all places.”

Harden looks at Frank through the rearview again. “Any more questions?” Frank shakes his head. “Good. Now, what do we do to make you ready for tomorrow?”

Frank looks back at him intensely and says, “Fewer mentions about how I’m going to die tomorrow would be great.”

Harden laughs, “Only so much I can do, but I’ll give it a shot.”

“I was hoping to hike one of the trails.”

“Alright, sounds good. How about that one there.” Harden points to a trail opening on the corner of the parking lot. 

Frank nods. The trail was a simple dirt path through the forest with twists and turns going through the park. The strong impact of the sunlight was muted by the leaves, giving them different hues of green that Harden hadn’t expected. The enclosure of the maple and oak trees brought a light warmth to the air that was pleasant. 

Harden looked over at Frank who was walking quietly with a smile. “How come you’re allowed this special treatment?” Harden asks.

Frank smiles and lowers his head. “I worked closely with the right people for a long time. It seems despite everything they don’t believe I could have done what the jury thinks I did. The only thing they could do for me was to make my last day a good one.” 

“And even then there was an uproar about it,” Harden said.

Frank nods.

“Well, I’m sorry Frank, but I don’t think that’s fair.” 

Frank looks up at Harden, “It isn’t.” 

The two men kept walking their shoes crunching on the ground. Every now and then they would stop to let someone pass and Harden would explain the situation to the stranger. Harden was beginning to find the quiet and nature to be quite peaceful when Frank asked.

“Do you have any children, Officer Harden?”

Again Harden is surprised by the question but he doesn’t falter this time. “Yeah, I’ve got two girls at home. One’s 8 and the other is 10.” Kathy and Kara, Harden thought, they mean the world to me. Then Harden was assaulted with an image of Kara lying bloody on the ground, her body full of holes with Frank standing over her. Harden shook his head. “Why?” he asked.

“What?”

“Why do you ask?”

Frank chuckled, “Old habits I guess.”

Harden looked at him skeptically, but Frank just shrugged.

“Why is this what you wanted to do?” Harden asked.

For a while, Frank kept walking as if he hadn't heard. 

“You could have done anything, right? Well, within reason. So why fly out to Wisconsin to walk in the woods and watch the sunrise?”

“Hold on tight to them, you never know what’ll happen,” Frank said. 

“What? Oh, my kids? Yeah… sure.”

“I would come here with Robbie every year. We would go fishing off that dock. Robbie always wanted to get out here so early, we liked watching the sunrise. Afterward, we would walk these trails. I probably know this park better than my own backyard. It's so beautiful. I thought maybe I would feel closer to Robbie if I came here, but it just makes me miss him more.”

Frank's eyes began to glaze over and within seconds his steps were slowed. He looked at the dirt beneath his feet and sobbed, his entire form shaking.

Harden looked at Frank, grimacing slightly. He patted Frank's back then cleared his throat.

Frank was dubbed over, tears hitting the dry dirt. He took a deep breath. Two deep breaths. Then slowly straightened up, making sure to wipe his face with his sleeve. “I’m sorry Officer, but I can’t do this.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I am done postponing this. Let's go back to the car. I’m done running from my fate.”

“But what about the sunset?”

“Fuck the sunset! You never answered my question.”

“What question?” Harden asked.

“Do you believe in an afterlife? Do you believe I will see my Gladys and Robbie again?”

“I believe,” Harden said.

“That’s all I need. The hope that we can connect again.”

Frank turned and walked the trail back the way they came. Somehow the way back was faster than the way out and before Harden knew it they were back in the car. The entire way Frank had looked like he wanted to say something but lacked the courage to do so. Finally, Harden asked what was wrong.

“I just wondered if you could do something for me.” 

“It depends,” Harden said.

“Watch the sunset for me. Not today, but someday come back up here with your family and watch the sunset.”

Harden opened his mouth and closed it again. “Sure, ok I’ll come back someday.”

“Thank you.”

The spring chill became a humid summer, which changed to a crisp fall. The leaves along the trails carry a mixed bag of oranges, reds, yellows, with some greens holding on. As the sun moves across the sky slowly sinking, a man, his wife, and two daughters walk out to the dock to watch the sunset. It’s rays reflected on the water get longer and longer until darkness overtakes them. The wife and kids hike back to the campsite while the man quietly stands and stares. He feels content watching the cool waters of Lake Michigan lightly lapping on the shore. The moon, bright and full emerges from behind a cloud. It shines off the lake undisturbed. Finally, the man gets up and goes back to his family.