Justice for All

 The halls of justice, Gabrielle thought, observing the beautiful architecture that surrounded her. Hopefully these people take what happens inside as seriously as they take the decor. In the back row she sat with a few friends and her sister, the rest of the galley was filled with press and the family and friends of the defendant, Josh. Normally he looked solemn but she swore today he wore a smirk. Always dressed in his array of designer suits, while she was forced to wear the same clothes she had to the funerals. It was the only piece of formal attire she owned.

The judge continued to blabber and she was thankful for a moment that she’d never have to hear him again. He had done a fair job and seemed a good man, however he could to talk like there was no tomorrow. After a few weeks of it she couldn’t take anymore. Nervously fingering her wedding ring, she was glad for all this to be over. The ring had taken on a different meaning since the accident. It now weighed her down, served as a reminder of what she had lost. There had been times before it had seemed like handcuffs for a prisoner, but those feelings were long gone. She missed him. And her daughters. She missed them all.

Josh had been found guilty; there hadn’t been any doubt how that would turn out. The evidence was stacked against him and even as pessimistic as she had become she wasn’t worried. But this is was different, she was nervous. Today was the sentencing and could go any number of ways. She wasn’t sure which was most likely much less which outcome she wanted. Deep down she knew. She wanted him to be thrown in a hole in the ground and left to rot. But she liked to imagine she was better than that. Jesus preached forgiveness. Did all those Sundays spent in church amount to nothing?

Finally the Judge got on with it. She sat forward, leaning on the seats in front of her, focusing as hard as she could. After he was finished speaking there was a moment of tranquility in the room before the frenzy began. Cameras flashed all around her. Josh rose in triumph and was embraced by his family. She felt hands patting her on her back.

The words rang out in her mind. “Two years probation…Court mandated rehab…Community service.” She bit her lip as hard as she could to make sure the pain registered. To make sure this was real. Everything proceeded dreamlike, as if she was watching a play in slow motion.

Eventually Josh and his entourage began to exit the courtroom, walking directly past her. She looked over at him, through the sunglasses that hid her tear-stained eyes. He reciprocated, and for a second they spent an eternity looking deep into each other’s souls. And then she smiled. Because she knew that justice will be served.