Kemper reflects on the possibility that death row is worse than death, detailing her twenty-three-hour daily confinement to a small cell and separation from general population. She lists the sparse furnishings—a metal slab bed with a thin mattress, a desk and stool, and a metal toilet and sink—and notes a tiny high window that offers almost no view.

She describes the rarity of showers, frequent sink washes, and minimal human contact beyond guards and occasional visits from her lawyer, Clarence Bowman. Whenever she leaves the cell, she is shackled and isolated in a separate cage during her one hour of yard time, reinforcing her feeling of being treated like a dangerous animal.

Correctional Officer Rhea Clark delivers dinner through a slot in the door, and Kemper forces herself to eat a low-quality meal—an icy fish patty and soggy canned green beans—while noting the state’s meager food budget. She recalls Noel’s lack of a sense of smell due to a childhood football injury and quotes a playful exchange about the injury, underscoring her grief and nostalgia.

As she eats, Kemper fantasizes about a simple fast-food burger for a last meal. She notes that Bowman will meet her in person the next day to discuss her appeal, suggesting important news. Despite her circumstances, she remains hopeful, asserting she had no motive to kill Noel and possesses an alibi.

The chapter ends with Kemper reiterating the paradox of her situation: she is on death row for Noel’s murder, yet she loved him and misses him deeply.