Shell Of A Man

12 - Court

PRESENT:

"It was...fucked up, what happened. Heartbreaking," said Leonard. "You were wrong, agreed, but to just up and leave like that. That was a bit too much. Like, who does that?" he asked.

Ray didn't know what to say. He just sighed. "What happened, happened."

"How did you move on?"

"Who said I did?"

"What? Dude, you weren't with him for even a year. You can't still be in love with him?" Leonard asked.

"I know, I shouldn't. It's been eleven years. A whole fucking decade has passed by, but I... I just can't shake this feeling, this craving for him. You know that feeling when you want something so bad that you can just feel it crawling under your skin?" Ray asked.

"Yeah. Your skin starts burning, goosebumps all over the body, heart rate quickens, pupils dilate, knees go weak, mouth goes dry, head goes dizzy..."

"Yes, exactly! It gets so overwhelming, I can feel it in my teeth. I know that's a weird thing to say, but I do. It's that primal kinda feeling, and I just...wanna kiss him so badly."

"I know, I know... You are not the only one who feels that way," said Leonard.

"Oliver?"

"Yeah."

"Once I figure out the Ninja technique of moving on, I will definitely let you know," said Ray. His words made both of them laugh, and the tension eased a bit.

"It's getting late. We should get going."

"Let's grab a bite first. All the crying and talking made me hungry," said Ray.

"Cool."

•••••

It had been a week since the preliminary hearing of the case. And things were getting hard for Jason already. So far, he hadn't found anything that could prove that his client was innocent. He had knocked on so many doors, but they all had the same thing to say – Jason's client was guilty. But, Jason knew that that wasn't true, and he was not gonna give up so easily.

The first trial session of the case didn't go well for Jason. It seemed like Medicos had bought everyone. The members of the cleaning staff that took the stand said that Cayo Morales, Jason's client, didn't talk to anyone. He would always mind his own business, and if and when someone tried to meddle, he would lose it. That is another thing people said, that Morales was short-tempered. And that he would sneak in and out of work all the time.

Two female assistants from the company came to the stand and said that Morales sexually harassed them as well. Medicos even presented some people who claimed that they bought drugs from Morales.

According to Morales, none of the statements were true. He was not a loner. In fact, he had excellent relations with all of the cleaning staff. He said that he had temper issues when he was young, but years of meditation fixed it. And, the bit about him sneaking in and out of work, he had never done that. He took his job seriously because he needed the money.

When Morales was called to the stand, he said that he had never talked to the female assistants who were accusing him of sexual harassment. And that he didn't even know their name until they came up to the stand. He also mentioned that he had never, in his life, seen the people who were claiming to have bought drugs from him.