Indeed, "great" story, it sticks with you. Read it a long time ago and that ending...

There's a point-and-click adventure game based on it(https://www.gog.com/game/i_have_no_mouth_and_i_must_scream), which is also very atmospheric.

Hannu Rajaniemi's The Quantum Thief begins

> As always, before the warmind and I shoot each other, I try to make small talk. 'Prisons are always the same, don't you think?' I don't even know if it can hear me.

By Harlan Ellison, to the curious. I started and finished his "Can and Cantankerous" (included in a Humble Book Bundle) last week. The title is a fittingly succinct self description.