The hall was silent. Every single person was sitting at the edge of their seat. I didn't understand why they were so tense. We all knew what the judge was going to say. I turned to look at my mother who was on the verge of tears surrounded by my co-workers all in black to show their support for me.
My lawyer was chewing on her lip and the defense lawyers looked so smug. It felt like we had been waiting hours for the judge to say one word when in fact it must've been a couple seconds. I started to think about my family and what they would do if I went to jail. They would probably be stigmatized. My little sister would probably be bullied because of her association to me even though I literally did nothing wrong. I started thinking about what jail would be like. I already knew that prisoners were treated like trash. Barely having any rights and fed nasty food. There would be gangs in jail and I might even have to get a tattoo. It would probably hurt more in jail because it wouldn't be sanitary. Maybe I could get my family to sneak me a shank so I could escape. Maybe things won't be so bad in jail. I'd get to meet new people I guess and if they don't appreciate my cheerfulness then they could just put me out of my misery early. Maybe I could - GUILTY!
Shock. That is the only way I could describe the expression on every face on my side of the courtroom. I sat still in the lumpy black chairs that were provided. I was numb. I expected to loose but I didn't think that it would actually happen. It felt like a lucid dream. Like and out- of - body experience. Like the worst part of a nightmare. I don't think that anybody was smiling. My supporters looked sullen. I probably had a faraway expression on my face. My lawyers probably looked like they were sucking on lemons. The defense attorneys looked torn between satisfaction and pity because they knew what they had done. The judge had the audacity to look satisfied though. It was as though he could not read the room. Even the security officers were hesitant to approach me.
I don't know when it started, all I know is that after the first tear rolled down my face, all hell broke loose. There was screaming in the courtroom and my mother was hurling profanities at the judge and the plaintiff lawyers. My little sister put her head in her hands and she started to bawl. Lamenting at the injustice that resulted from my kindness. None of this would have happened if I hadn't taken that job at King and Sons- the leading food production corporation in the country. It seemed like the best option honestly. How did this amazing opportunity turn into the worst mistake of my life.
YOU ARE READING
Adjoa's Trial
Short StoryA short story about a young lady who was wrongfully persecuted by the justice system because she assaulted a rich shareholder in a company, even though she was defending a woman who was being sexually harassed.
