One

"This is bullshit Your Honor, The State--"

"Excuse me Counselor, what did you just say in my courtroom?"

Fuck, I did it again. Gotta get ahold of yourself Viral.

"I'm sorry, Your Honor, I got overly passionate, but the state--"

"No!"

I do this all the time. I let myself get worked up and then I go and forget who I'm talking to. Ya can't swear in a courtroom, and you definitely can't swear at the judge. To be fair, Judge Brown has been overwhelmingly patient with me. I probably should have been found in contempt half a dozen times by now, but she has let me off with warning after warning. I have a feeling this isn't going to continue though.

"Ms. Youngblood, enough is enough. The state has proven their case. The jury has returned a verdict. If this was your first time in court I could, maybe, excuse this, but you've been doing this for... how many years?"

"Five, Your Honor."

"Jesus, five years? This shouldn't be shocking to you anymore. It's time you get your act together and start behaving like a professional. I'm finding you in contempt and fining you five-thousand dollars. You have ten days to pay the court or I'm imposing jail time."

I nod. It certainly could have been worse.

"Yes Your Honor."

"And Ms. Youngblood, a nickel's worth of free advice, if you want to stop losing... stop representing guilty people."

I let out a short breath of laughter.

"Somebody has to," I say, under my breath.

"What was that?"

I look up, pale, afraid of another five-k fine.

"I said, somebody has to, Your Honor."

She breathes a sympathetic sigh.

"Yes, but Viral, it doesn't always have to be you."

I sit down and put my hand on my clients. She's cold to the touch and crying quietly in her seat.

"This court is adjourned. Karen Schuldig, you are hereby ordered to appear for sentencing one week from today. Court dismissed."

The gavel comes down and Judge Brown stands and confidently walks out of the room. I turn my chair to face Karen and take her hands in mine.

"It's not over Karen, we can appeal. You can appeal, with a different lawyer. Argue that you had ineffective counsel."

She's shaking her head.

"No," she says, through sobbing chokes. "No, she's right. You did the best you could. For a second there I thought you might even pull it off, but she's right and we both know it."

I stare at her swollen red eyes and feel genuine pity. It's a fucking drug charge. Not even a real one, she was selling her own Ritalin. A legit prescription. She just needed to pay rent so she wouldn't get evicted. She's going to go to jail because her skeezy landlord was price-gouging her. In what world is that fair?

"What can I do for you?" I ask, softly.

"What's going to happen to Kelsie?" She asks, by way of an answer.

I shake my head.

"I don't know. The State has her."

"Can you help her? Make sure she ends up somewhere safe?"

My eyes drop to the floor.

"I don't know Karen. I'm not sure what I can do. I'm a criminal attorney, I don't really deal with--"

"Please. I can't bear the thought of her ending up in some dirty foster home. Please."

I nod.

"Okay, I'll go over there today and see what I can do."

"Thank you," she says, as the bailiff lays his thick mitt on her shoulder.

"Time to go," he says.

Karen stands up and, reflexively, puts her hands behind her back. The cuffs grind into place and she's guided out the side door to be processed. I'm still sitting and notice the room has gone silent. I look up to find the courtroom empty. It's a flat, beige, armpit of a room lit by florescent lights and devoid of any character.

"Bullshit," I whisper.

I stand and push through the swing rail into the gallery and walk to the doors. There's a creak behind me and I stop with one hand on the exit.

"Ms. Youngblood."

I don't turn. I just stand frozen, Judge Brown’s eyes drilling a hole in the back of my head.

"I meant what I said, young lady."

Long breath.

"So did I."

I fight the urge to face her.

"Good," she says. "Then keep it up."

I push the heavy wood door open and walk out of the court.