Confession of a Serial Killer

they wheeled me in like a busted fridge metal bolts, the stink of bleach my hands were calm for once— you'd think I'd scream, but I'd already done all my screaming. a priest mumbled junk at me— I asked for a cigarette, he gave me god instead. the guards were kids shaking like leaves they strapped me tight like I was gonna run. I looked at the bulb overhead— thought of the girl in Idaho, how she laughed before I broke her neck. I almost cried. almost. they stuffed cotton in my mouth, clamped that steel cap down like I was a bad battery. somebody puked. someone else prayed. me? I grinned. the juice hit— a million volts of penance. my spine tried to climb out, my teeth danced, my bowels gave up. and still it didn’t feel like enough. not even close.