The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row

Hinton begins reflecting on his life, still not sure about how much time he has. While insisting he will reflect on the good moments of his life, he starts by listing the name of the 54 men executed during his stay. One more prisoner has been set to be executed, but, Hinton says, “I didn’t want to add [his] name to the list. Not yet. Not while there was still hope” (224).

He continues reminiscing and asks himself a long list of questions about what the future might hold for him: “I remembered how good it felt to hold a woman in my arms and have her look into my eyes […] Even if I got out, who would want to kiss the man from death row” (225). Hinton suggests he might as well be resigned to knowing that he will be executed: “My case was winding down. I knew that” (226).

Eventually, he gets a call from Stevenson: They have made progress in the case. While Hinton is not yet quite able to start preparing to leave, there is, finally, a foreseeable resolution: “The United States Supreme Court was on my side” (228).