Mama's Little Girls

forty-two

Onika Maraj
18 October 2019
Maraj & Cooper LLP

The stack of case files on my desk seemed to grow every time I blinked. My office was quiet except for the soft hum of the air conditioning and the faint tapping of my fingers on the keyboard. The clock on the wall mocked me, ticking away the hours I'd already sunk into this case. This wasn't just any case—it was the hardest one I'd ever taken. The stakes were high, and the margins for error were nonexistent. 

If I failed, it wouldn't just be my reputation on the line; someone's entire future depended on me. 

I leaned back in my chair, letting out a sigh as I ran my hand over my face. The research for this case was exhausting. I had spreadsheets, witness testimonies, legal precedents, and piles of notes spread across my desk. My laptop screen glowed in front of me, displaying legal articles I'd been dissecting for hours. I was neck-deep in the intricacies of the law, trying to find even the smallest crack in the prosecution's case that I could exploit. 

A knock at the door pulled me out of my focus. Before I could answer, Alani peeked her head in, carrying a tray with a sandwich and a cup of green tea. 

"Figured you wouldn't eat if I didn't force it on you." She said with her usual cheerful tone, stepping inside and placing the tray on the edge of my desk. 

I smiled faintly. "Thanks, Lala." 

"Someone's gotta keep you alive." She teased, settling onto the small couch in the corner of my office. She watched me for a moment, her head tilted. "You've been in here since this morning. How's it going?" 

"It's going." I replied, not looking up from my notes. "The case is a mess. Every time I think I'm making progress, I hit another wall. But I'll get through it. I always do." 

Alani shook her head, her curls bouncing slightly. "Just don't forget to take a breather every once in a while, okay? You're no good to your client if you burn out." 

I nodded absentmindedly, already slipping back into the labyrinth of legal arguments in my head. Alani lingered for a moment before leaving me to my work. 

Hours passed in a blur. I was in full-on study mode, poring over depositions and cross-referencing case law. My phone buzzed on the desk, and I glanced at it, seeing that it was my client. 

"Hello, this is Onika Maraj." I answered, my tone professional. 

"Ms. Maraj, I just wanted to check in and see if there's any update." My client said nervously. 

"I'm deep into research right now, and I've already flagged a couple of angles we can take," I replied. "It's going to take time, but I'm confident we can build a strong defense. You just need to sit tight and let me handle this." 

They let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you. I'm so grateful for everything you're doing." 

"This is my job," I said firmly. "And I don't lose cases." 

After hanging up, I placed the phone down and leaned back in my chair, letting out a breath. My confidence was genuine—I had to believe in myself if I wanted my clients to believe in me too—but the pressure of this case was suffocating. 

The afternoon sun streamed through the blinds, casting stripes of light across my desk. Then there was another knock at the door. 

"Come in." I called without looking up. 

This time, Alani didn't bring food. She carried a small vase with fresh flowers and placed it on the edge of my desk. 

"Thought you could use a little brightness in here." She said with a smile.