The ticking of the clock invigorated her. Every click pounded in her brain, every hourly chime let her know that she was that much closer to her release. Life, there's the rub... She would never know the calamity of a long life, and for that she was grateful. While others were doomed to grow old, lose their loved ones, die alone - she gave her life freely - knowing that her sacrifice would please their overlords, bringing peace to her village.

She said her farewells to a swelling sea of tear streaked faces, but her own was shining, brilliant. As the final chimes began to toll, her executioner beamed her into eternity.