The Things That I Know || George Michael

thirty-one - small victory

"Well, this is it," Levi sighs, as he and George make their way into the courtroom. "Let's see how long we get to avoid him for."

"Hopefully they lock him away and throw away the key," George adds. "It's the least he deserves for what he did to you."

"I just worry that they'll be too lenient." Levi glances down at the floor, fearing for the worst outcome — that Mackenzie is given a low sentence; and he will be forced to see him again in the near future.

"All the evidence is against him. He basically admitted to what he did, anyway. They won't let him off lightly," George reassures him. "I bet he gets at least a decade."

"I don't know." Levi concludes the conversation, feeling it's inappropriate to converse when the rest of the room is silent. They find a seat in the gallery, making sure they are positioned in a spot where Mackenzie will be able to see them.

A few minutes later, the doors to the courtroom are closed; and a court clerk brings Mackenzie in. Mackenzie takes his place in his dock, glancing across to the two men seated in front of him. George and Levi fix stern, yet otherwise-unreadable gazes on him in return; this prompts him to look away, his eyes flitting back to the judge.

"Will the defendant please stand," the judge demands. Mackenzie obliges, rising from his seat, before resting his hands on the bars in front of him. The judge continues. "Mister Mackenzie Alwick, you were arrested on September twentieth of this year on suspicion of attempted murder and high culpability threat with a weapon. When you were first questioned at the police station on the same night, you denied all claims made against you firmly. You tried to paint the victim as the perpetrator, claiming that he tried to attack you; and that you acted out of self-defence. Your account of what happened had many plot holes, which forfeited its legitimacy. When the victim was questioned, it was clear that he had been deeply traumatised by your acts; and his account had no flaws, with evidence to back it up. During your trial, your story changed; you told the room under oath that you did in fact have the weapon in your possession with the intent to use it if necessary. You later proceeded to, in essence, confess to your crimes — when Mister Panayiotou-Jones was under oath. The jury found you guilty of both charges after taking the time to assess all of the evidence they had been given. You have only shown limited remorse for what you have done, which will affect the sentence you are given."

"Let's hear it, then," George whispers into Levi's ear. "Let's see what he gets."

"Mister Mackenzie Alwick, for being found guilty of attempted murder, you are sentenced to five years' imprisonment. For being found guilty of high culpability threat with a weapon, you are sentenced to four years' imprisonment. This, in total, means that you are sentenced to a total of nine years' imprisonment with no eligibility for probation or parole." The judge looks to the court clerk, and a security officer who stands by the clerk's side. "Take him down."

The clerk and the security officer approach Mackenzie in his dock; the officer opens the wooden door to allow Mackenzie out. With one man either side of him, they escort Mackenzie towards the staircase which leads down to the prison cells. Before he is fully out of sight, he turns desperately to see George and Levi watching him.

"I'm sorry Levi. I'm sorry," he calls back. "I love you."

Levi observes with furrowed brows, and tears in his widened eyes, as Mackenzie disappears out of sight. He doesn't utter a single word in response to the man who made his life miserable; and, granted, he has no obligation to do so. Even when George pats his arm to try and capture his attention, he doesn't take his eyes off the doorway from which Mackenzie exited from. He takes a moment to gather his thoughts; to calm his breathing down; to blink away his tears. Only a few moments later, does he finally acknowledge his husband.