Darkness

Two

Mia

I felt like I was burning inside my tight, black suit. My mum held my hand as we made our way down the court.

My blonde hair was styled back into a tight bun, my makeup was light and I feel very self conscious.

I felt everyone staring at me, i heard muttering and coughing.

And there he was. On the other bench from me, facing the judge. In the daylight I could finally have a close look at him. I half expected him to look like the evil, huge and imitating monster I had imagined from a week ago.

But, no. The sad thing was, he just looked a mess. He had a skinny frame, sunken, tear stained face and short, greasy curly hair. He was wearing black jeans with a navy blazer. It wasn't smart clothing, and I also felt offended that he seemed to have made no effort on looking respectable.

I kept a straight face and sat down.

The judge came to podium, and we all stood up in respect to him, before swiftly sitting back down.

"Mia Janet Mores," I nodded and stood up. "Can you conclude that this man, Adam Joans, a week ago attacked you violently, leaving you alone with two broken ribs and a swollen eye when you were innocent?"

I watched Adam, he seemed to have no emotions on his face, apart from emptiness and one single tear falling from his left eye.

I was going to open my mouth to agree with the Judges statement, maybe even adding in my mental scars from the event, when suddenly Adam stood up.

"Did I say you could stand up?" The judge boomed.

"No, your honour." He answered quietly.

"Sit down." The judge yelled, but Adam refused.

"Not before i say what I want to say," he cleared his throat. "You people look at me and see a failure. Maybe you're correct. What you don't know is how hard my life is, you don't have to live off scraps that you people don't want. Mia, you have a family. In fact your side the bench is full with people who love and care about you, sending me behind bars won't change that. Me, I have no one. I don't even have a place to live, let alone anyone teaching me how to a better person."

"You have hurt people." I whispered.

"I know. Believe me, I know. It's Just I get so mad, at myself and I have no way out. Lock me up in up prison, you know what that means? When I come out I'll be even more alone. I've spent my whole life in and out of those places, meanwhile getting into gangs after gangs, I have nothing left Mia. One chance, I'm begging. I didn't want to hurt anyone that night, I never meant to hurt you, never."

I stared at him, his eyes looked red from crying and for a split second he didn't look a monster, but a scared and lonely young adult.

"Mia?" I got snapped out of my thoughts, by the judges voice dragging me back to reality.

"Do you have evidence to support what Adam is saying, about his life I mean?" I asked.

His Lawyer rose up. "I do, Mr Joans had a very troubled childhood, growing up In a household associated with violence and crime, which has lead to him becoming a fragile person. His actions weren't due to hatred or pure aggression, but by a damaged background." I nodded and turned to the Judge.

"No, your Honour."

"No what, Mia?"

"He didn't try and hurt me on purpose. I am dropping all charges on Adam Joans."

My mum gasped, along with Adam and rest of people in the room.

"Is this the right thing to do, Mia, he could hurt another person?" My Lawyer hissed at me.

"We have no evidence that he did it, apart myself, and I want to drop the charges." I said, ignoring her comment and keeping my eye line low.

"Are you insane?" My mum almost yelled. I felt bad, I knew how supportive and loving she had been.

"I'm okay mum, and I want to give him a second chance."

"So he can fall back into his old life?" She questioned, anger clear in her sharp tone.

"I won't let that Happen." I said, glaring across the room to Adam, who still looked shocked.

"Final chance, are you still sticking with dropping the charges?" The Judge asked.

"Yes, your Honour."

"I therefore close this case." He said, followed by the hitting of the gavel.

-

As we made our way out of the court, I grabbed Adams shoulder.

"I just fucking saved you from four years in jail, when you hurt me!" I yelled. He backed away a little.

"I can't thank you enough, I mean it." He replied.

"You're coming with me, and when I'm done with you, you'll never think about breaking the law again."

"Since I have no where to else to go..." He trailed off.

"You're going to change, believe me, Adam Joans."

He was going to change.