Edited sentence: Although Gilmore often writes to Nicole Baker while in jail, his letters read more like desperate pleas for her to remain sexually faithful rather than a romantic gesture.Gilmore only wanted to control Nicole and, realizing that he could not, sought an end to his depressing existence on death row.Gilmore’s actions after his incarceration all stand contrary to any arguments that he takes on “dignity”, “romantic faith”, or that he is trying to find a “good death”.Gilmore’s selfish and controlling personality comes to its climax when he orchestrates a mutual suicide with Nicole shortly before his execution, nearly killing them both and orphaning her children.I LOVE YOU         I LOVE YOU         I LOVE YOU     I LOVE YOU.I love you.In one letter on September 9th, he demands, “F*** s*** p*** G** Nicole Tell me.Nicole don’t be with anybody else dont dont dont dont dont […]With nobody can I share you.That act alone refutes any claim that Gilmore is some sort of romantic or existential hero who sought his own death because it was inevitable or ethically just.Wednesday and Sunday are too far apart ----------- why don’t you write me more.’” However, this statement is a misreading of several key parts of the book.” In that letter and others like it, Gilmore claims to love Nicole, but his understanding of love seems emotionally stunted and linked entirely with sexual pleasure and his ability to completely control Nicole’s life through guilt and anger