in a white room with white walls we wait for our witness but none comes

I've convinced myself of her guilt

two convicts we stand in silence

glass stretched between us we couldn't speak even if we wanted to

soundproof, bullet proof, we've been briefed

I see her red button pulse in time with my own

one touch and it will be over

to clarify, this was never voluntary

picked out of our respective prisons

life sentences they figure why not kill them?

she's put together

hair combed and uniform ironed

I wonder what guilt tastes like

"I was framed"

I say it without thinking

a frequent and impulsive statement

I never killed

and I'm not prepared to do it now

but I'm sure she's guilty

so why does she hesitate

we could just sit here

how long would it take for them to get bored of our standoff

what is she waiting for

her eyes are a stark contrast of color against the bland room split in two

bluer than I've seen

we watched each other

I tremble

she steps towards the glass and I step back

I can see her smirk and she steps towards her beating heart of a button

instinct takes over

I race and my fingers stumble over to the light

I look back to see her horrified

it was a misstep

she never meant to kill me

too late my fingers make an indent

the whole world is red

they never meant for either to survive

silly killers