I, Executioner

"I, Executioner" by Ted White is a science fiction story set in a bleak future where eliminating anyone who doesn't fit in is seen as keeping things in order. The story pulls us into the mind of Bob, who works as someone who carries out these executions, and shows us the struggles he faces with what he does, bringing up big questions about who we are, what's right and wrong, and how much power society should have. We watch as Bob goes to another execution, only to find a former friend among those set to die. Their past happiness clashes with the terrible truth of their lives now, forcing Bob to acknowledge the emotions he thought he had buried. The execution pushes Bob to a breaking point, making him realize how easily he too could be crushed by this harsh way of life. The story leaves us wondering about the value of fitting in and what it truly costs when sanity is জোর করে achieved through violence.