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The mumbling of voices and the rustling of papers filled the air as Dayvon sat in the courtroom, feeling the pressure steadily rising within him, his chest tightening with every passing second. He fidgeted in his seat, trying to get comfortable but it was no use. The stiff, hardwood was digging into his back, and he could feel sweat starting to gather under the collar of his shirt.
He tugged at his tie for what felt like the hundredth time, but it didn't help. It was too tight, too suffocating—just like this whole situation. The air was thick and stale, creating a heavy atmosphere. And around him, cases were being called, people chatted quietly, and the occasional footsteps added to the background noise.
His lawyer sat beside him, flipping through a folder of notes, giving him a quick, reassuring look. Von tried to take comfort in it, but it wasn't working. His mind was running wild lowkey, thinking about all the things that could go wrong.
What if the judge sided with Kema? What if he lost Kasim for good? That was his biggest fear and it was eating him up inside. No matter how much his lawyer said things would be fine, that they had a strong case, it didn't settle the storm of thoughts that kept bouncing around in his head.
However, across from him, Kema sat with her lawyer. She looked calm, almost too calm, and it made his stomach twist. This wasn't the first time they'd been in court battling over Kai, but Von hoped it would be the last. He'd been through enough; the arguments, the back-and-forth accusations, the sleepless nights wondering how much time he'd actually get to spend with his son.
It was all too much.
The judge then entered after a brief moment, a stern-faced woman with gray hair pulled back into a tight bun. Everyone stood as she took her seat at the bench, and after the formalities, the case began. Dayvon swallowed hard, feeling the tension in the room tighten as Kema's lawyer began to speak first.
"As Your Honor is aware, my client, Ms. Queen, has been the primary caregiver for Kasim for the past four years. She's provided a stable home, ensuring that all of his needs are met, and fostering a loving and nurturing environment. We are here today to request that this stability not be disrupted by an unrealistic visitation schedule proposed by Mr. Bennett"
Dayvon clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to kiss his teeth. The words were the same every time as if he wasn't capable of being a father to Kasim. Like his job, his efforts, and his love didn't mean anything.
"We recognize that Mr. Bennett wishes to have more time with his son, but his schedule as a firefighter—while noble—is demanding and inconsistent," Kema's lawyer continued. "This creates challenges when it comes to ensuring that Kasim is cared for during regular school weeks. Ms. Queen, as the primary guardian, has maintained that consistency and will continue to do so"
The lady's voice was smooth, each word carefully chosen to frame Kema as the ideal parent. She paced slightly in front of the judge, her heels clicking against the wooden floor.
