Sentencing Day

551 Days

You were sweaty, even despite the air conditioning in the antiquated courthouse working overtime. On your lawyer's advice, you'd taken off the blonde wig and the blue contacts, letting your brown eyes show, and getting a standard male wig. You were dressed in a suit, which felt positively awful on you. You wrung your dainty hands together, wishing this was over already.

Trevor wasn't going to show up within a ten mile radius to any courthouse. Jackson and Kasey volunteered to come, but your lawyer had advised against it, as the judge didn't countenance alternative lifestyles. You really wished Amanda was here. But she wouldn't return from Syria for another week.

You'd tried to block out this moment for as long as you could, but when Carlos had mentioned it, you'd been gripped with a fear that hadn't left. You were like a zombie, listening to the prosecutor demand time, your counsel demanding probation. The judge looked at you impassively throughout.

You apologized, stammering. And then the judge opened his mouth ...

"Mr. Martinez, I've reviewed your case. And I've reviewed your very difficult medical history. I sentence you to ..."