Aurora Magazine 2018

Sorry about this. (KYLE sticks the needle in MARSHALL’s arm.) MARSHALL Apologizing for a small needle prick, boy? Are you going to cry when you put an innocent man down? KYLE When are you going to give that up? You, me, and the needle are being honest, remember? MARSHALL I’ve only been honest with you and that needle, boy. I’m sick too. KYLE I don’t understand. MARSHALL I’ve spent eighteen years of my life here, boy. And, I was going to spend the rest of my life here. I was just a little older than you when I was brought to this place. I’ve fought, I’ve given my all. I’ve given testimonies, I’ve given DNA, I’ve done ev- erything to prove my innocence. Once you’re looked at as guilty, you might as well be. You can’t shake the image of being known as the boogeyman once you’ve been given it. You’re a smart boy, you know that. KYLE Wh- (MARSHALL begins to cough, a small amount of blood com- ing from his mouth.) MARSHALL Let me finish. I came home that night eighteen years ago to find my girlfriend murdered, only to be blamed for the crime because it was the simple way out. A quick way to solve a heinous crime. I had a few drug possession charges, nothing serious, but that was their way in, boy. “The drug addicted C O O P E R

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