An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce is a story set during the time of the American Civil War that explores what it means to die. We meet Peyton Farquhar, a supporter of the South, who's about to be hanged by Union soldiers for trying to mess with their railroad. As he waits on the bridge, his mind races with the idea of getting away. He imagines a daring escape, falling into the river, dodging bullets, and finally making it home to his family. The story follows his desperate fight for survival as he sees everything around him with incredible detail. But, in a twist, we learn that Farquhar's escape was all in his head, a last burst of imagination as he dies on the bridge.