MADMAN'S DEMISE

14

After the testimony, I was thoroughly breath-taken. The words spun in my head. I knew every single one of them mattered in this case. As Brandon's treater I was seated upon a lot of mattering information about him, information that could help the verdict.

I walked back and forth over the dark stone floor in the corridor of the high court, trying to get rid of the stress and lingering irritation with Frederick Harding. He annoyed me by purpose, I knew that, and I had to let it go. I did everything right. The answers to all questions were valid, and I was happy with them.

As I finally let my shoulders fall, I watched Dorothy's figure approaching me in the corridor. Her steps were confident as always, and per usual she was well-dressed in all-black clothing. Suddenly the nervousness struck me, knowing afterward it was not very smart of me to start carping about the wrongful doings of the police authorities regarding the Joseph Acker situation. I knew it could harm the reputation of the institution, which was Dorothy's concern for sure, although the hospital had nothing to do with the wrongdoing in Joseph's transfer.

Also, I was here to give my testimony in the case of Brandon and Arthur Barlowe, therefore speculations or accusations regarding the Acker occasion would be considered irrelevant from the perspective of the jury. Yet I prepared to hear about Dorothy's displeasure, since the courtroom - no matter which statement was valid or not - still was filled with hungry journalists.

"You did very well in there, Beverly." Dorothy stated, and I was immediately surprised by her compliment. Ms. Schwartz was a strict woman, and claiming her appreciation was not the easiest thing to do, especially not on serious occasions like this, not least after adventuring the reputation of her very own agency.

My shoulders relaxed again as I could now also let go of the nervousity of being scolded.

"You think so?"

I needed assurance.

"You spoke with honesty and profession." Nodded the woman. I swallowed. One part of me felt guilty, another felt relieved. Not even Dorothy could rumble my lies, and it seemed she just forgot about my imputations.

"Thank you." I breathed as I smiled. The corner of her mouth twitched, and I was pleased with that. Dorothy was not a very smiling person.

"What are your thoughts on Nurse Browne's testimony?" I then asked. I needed to prepare for Ethel's turn. She didn't exactly share the same vision of Brandon as myself.

"I think she has another point of view since her sessions with Brandon have not been as successful as yours during the years," Dorothy confirmed my thoughts and I got worried again. But she wasn't quite finished.

"But I know she has acknowledged his development, and she is proud of him. She will speak the truth and she will not denigrate him purposely."

Pleased with the confirmation that Ethel was not here to make Brandon look bad, I nodded once more and erased the discrete worry frown on my face. Then Dorothy passed by me again.

"I'll see you in there." She left her footfall echoing in the spacious hallway before she disappeared. I grabbed a cup of coffee in the court cafeteria, walked outside, and allowed myself a smoke in the late-summer air as I gathered my thoughts one last time before the continuous hours began.

Thankfully I would get to sit in the courtroom this time and listen to everything being said instead of sitting alone in that barren, seafoam room, not knowing at all what was happening inside the assembly.

I would be close to Brandon for all the time that was left now. I would be seated right behind him, calming his mind with my presence. He would make it through, because I would be there, all along...

As the thirty-minute break was over, I walked back to the entrance of the courtroom, greeted Dorothy outside and walked into the room with her to take a seat on one of the wooden brown benchbacks behind the prosecution table.

The room got swiftly crowded. Nosy journalists were huddling in the rows, curious inhabitants here only to catch a glimpse of the known psycho, a couple of them protesters sneaking their placards in. Their ridiculous statements even made me mad on the inside.

"Murderer"
"The dad is lying!"
"The son is guilty!"

Like they had any spark of insight in this...

But as soon as they were let in they got deported by the security, and I was pleased Brandon was not yet inside to witness the sudden, but well handled occurring drama.

Even if I prepared Brandon for such things, I knew he would never be prepared enough to see it happen in front of his own eyes. I knew his confidence would descend if he saw the broadsheets, and that could make him hesitate on this whole thing and change his approach in an instant.

The courtroom got grave, and finally the heavy double doors closed and embraced the crowded room with silence, shutting out and excluding every idiot protestor. Judge Sawyer stepped in from the back door and took his seat, then Arthur walked in beside the beardy barrister and they both took their seats at the defence table. The jury was already in the box. Twelve people here to decide what Brandon's fate would be.

The back door opened again, and right behind Roscoe Van Doren, Brandon walked into the room with heavy steps. He immediately caught my presence. I inhaled deeply, my lungs affected by his piercing stare and desperate for oxygen. He looked so damn good in that perfectly fitted suit I was brought to heat.

His gaze followed me all the way to his table, he refused to let go even for a blink. I inspected his being, penetrated his soul with my own agaze. His eyes were calling for help. I wanted to embrace him, take him in my arms and never let go of him. But I couldn't do that. Not now. Not yet.

I parted my lips, made sure he was still watching me, and discretely tilted my head in a nod as I smiled and mimed "You got this". The corner of his mouth twitched, and a dimple suddenly dug into his left cheek before it disappeared as fast again. Then he turned around and sat down at the prosecutor's table next to Roscoe.

I was glad I could contribute somehow to Brandon in this hard time. Since there was not much at all I could do, I was grateful my existence was enough for him to feel composed. Knowing that he could sense my presence brought me to lingering flutter. Even through air, our souls were connected, like a field of magnetism pulled our spirits into unity. Maybe the inevitable devotion between us was so full of force that it made our souls inseparable. Maybe the element of our intimate bond was so precipitating it was impossible not to be affected by its chemical steam. Anyway, it was powerful, knowing our love was so strong not even a distance could separate the two of us.

Interrupting my occupied mind, Judge Sawyer suddenly started talking to re-open the trial after the short break. Nurse Browne was called in for her testimony right after his introduction and was asked questions very similar to mine. In full she did a good job. Her answers were all fair even though I didn't agree with them all. Yet I was aware she had been witnessing lawsuits before. She had been working as a treating nurse for so many years and handled so many criminally insane inmates, she was probably not even nervous to take the stand anymore.