Everything started off as usual - formal and stiff and proper. However, after the defendant had just unexpectedly delivered the best joke of the millennia, the room’s typical seriousness - that demanded any laughter to be suppressed - only seemed to make his words funnier. The audience tried to hide their giggles, some nearly choking on their breath. Even the mouth corners of the most stone-faced attendees began to twitch, and suddenly, none could hold it in anymore and they all howled with laughter.
Even the judge, known for her rigid discipline, uncharacteristically broke character and surrendered to the joy. She erupted into such a hearty laughter that tears streamed down her cheeks and her shoulders bobbed up and down. She looked embarrassed at the outburst - but couldn’t stop herself.
People clutched their stomachs, nearly gliding down their seats. Some had to run to the bathroom. Such merriment had never before occurred in a courtroom. The defendant, who had sparked the laughter, looked around contentedly, pleasantly surprised by the joyous chaos his jest had stirred - like spreading a wildfire throughout the room.
It took a moment for the judge to regain her composure, after which she drew several deep and shaky breaths. She was acutely aware of the courtroom's usually solemn atmosphere, and that this behavior was highly unprofessional. Considering the weight of her high position, she was not doing a good job at appearing unbiased when responding in such a manner to the defendant. In the past, she had reprimanded the audience or lawyers for far less- yet, here she was.
They all agreed to a brief recess, stepping outside for fresh air and an attempt at neutralizing the situation.
However, upon their return to the courtroom, the residual glee from the joke tugged at everyone’s lips, threatening to send the judge into another round of laughter. Her usually unyielding demeanor had been shattered. For this, she offered the people an apology, and was met with understanding grins in return.
People settled back into their seats, eagerly waiting for the next act of a delightful play. They glanced at the defendant, smiling whenever it was his turn to speak, keenly listening to every word he had to say and suppressed their laughter at the smallest hint of humor he delivered.
The verdict came a week later, and the people gathered once more. The jury had debated the plaintiff and defendant’s words, examining every detail, deliberating the seriousness the defendant was accused of and all the evidence stacked up against him.
Seated a distance away from the defendant, the plaintiff nervously wrung her hands, grappling with a whirlwind of fears. If she lost, would the defendant seek retribution? She was intimately familiar with his vindictive nature, which had made her think more than twice about pursuing the case. But she could not just let it go - she had to bring a voice to the victims he had silenced, and ensure he could not bring anyone else down. She had been lucky to escape his abuse, yet she never really felt free of him. Distance did not cease his grasp of her, and so she brought the case to court to finally cut herself loose, once and for all. But, as the trial wore on, her resolve had wavered. The previous session had been a nightmare. She sat frozen as the courtroom burst into laughter around her - she was the only one not laughing. Even her lawyer, whom she'd hoped would be a pillar of strength, had barely stifled giggles, masking them with fake coughs into his elbow. To them, it was a joke. To her, it was betrayal.
Her lawyer had called the evidence compelling. The case was airtight. But none of that stopped her hands from trembling or the sweat soaking through her dress. It wasn't just the defendant’s physical presence in the room that made her sick to her stomach, but also his unnerving charm that had saved him from tight spots, time and time again. She just had to calm herself with the knowledge that, here, in a courtroom, evidence would prevail.
She tugged at the hem of her dress as the judge, with papers laid out before her on the desk, commenced the session. The judge rose to her feet, spouting formalities no one seemed to listen to, all to eager to get on with it and hear the results. The tension in the room thickened, every eye on her, every breath held. And then, she declared, "We find the defendant…” The judge paused. The following words shattered the plaintiff’s world: “Not guilty."
A collective sigh of relief escaped the spectators. As the judge laid out the rationale behind the decision, the plaintiff felt as though the floor had disappeared beneath her, and her knees buckled as she dropped into the chair, her soul plummeting into a void. Moments later, as the formalities concluded, a buzz of chatter filled the air as people were leaving the room. Some even exchanged chuckles, recalling the defendant's joke from the previous session.
Lost in despair and disbelief, her lawyer’s sympathetic words sounded distant, hollow. She avoided meeting anyone's gaze, especially her opponent’s. But she did look towards the judge and the jury, searching their expressions for the true answer that was never truly revealed in the judge's explanation. The evidence had been unmistakable. Why, then, was he walking free? But their faces betrayed nothing but contentment as they departed. Their job was done, they would return home as usual - and it sickened her.
Someone retold the defendant’s joke as they were squeezing out the doors, along the horde of people, prompting everyone to chuckle.
Anger and resentment knotted within her. It dawned on her that the onlookers were never invested in the outcome. They were pleased with the defendant’s release, because he had provided drama and amusement. Now they had a good story to tell their friends, and a joke to repeat. Were they really so bored, and were their morals really so twisted, that they'd rather push for a moment of entertainment rather than deliver a fair punishment? Who did they truly support? Nobody but themselves - it seemed.
Her lips quivered, the weight of disbelief pressing down on her as the room gradually emptied. All that remained was the hot and foul air.
She felt weak by the thought of heading home, terrified by what possible cruel schemes of retaliation he might have in store. Fleeing the country crossed her mind, but that meant leaving behind everything she held dear. Rather than him facing consequences, she was now the one being punished.
A chilling sensation crawled down her spine - feeling his eyes boring into her, as he remained in the courtroom along with her. She was certain that a triumphant, malevolent smile played on that beast's lips, but she refused to look at him. Once again, his devilish silver tongue had freed him from the consequences of his actions.
She couldn't bear being in the presence of his glee any longer. As she stood, his voice echoed from across the room, trying to bait her. With steadfast resolve, the little one she had left, she marched out to the sound of his mocking laughter. Laughter - the sound of the world’s betrayal.
Her lawyer trailed behind her steps, and they shut themselves in a quiet room within the building. As they settled into chairs, the weight of defeat pressed down on her. She knew her lawyer had given his all, but she felt as betrayed by him as she did by the courtroom's occupants, the jury, and the judge. With a fierce swing, she slammed her fist onto the table, her voice filled with anguish, "So, that’s it?” she hissed. “If a person is amusing enough, he walks free? All it takes is to make the jury laugh, even if your heart's innocence is as black as coal! Our justice system might as well be a comedy club! I’m being torn into pieces because of this verdict, yet it seems no one truly cares."
Her lawyer simply nodded, his silence echoing her despair.
Created somewhere between 2022-2023
The background image is by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.