"For the aforementioned crimes, and a pattern of violence, I hereby sentence you to serve the remainder of your childhood, 3 years, 4 months, and 16 days, in the juvenile detention facility. Do you understand, Miss Crawford?"
"Yeah, Judge," Sarah said with an air of unconcern. She was scared shitless, but she wouldn't let it show, not in front of that asshole.
"I suggest you be more respectful," Mrs. Uleo, her worthless lawyer whispered urgently.
"Why, the asshole already screwed me, why kiss his ass now?"
"If you continue with this attitude, I'm afraid I can no longer represent you, young lady."
"Wow, no shit? Do me that favor, will you? You lazy piece of shit. If I had a real lawyer I wouldn't be going to detention now, would I. No wonder your ass is free. Go ahead, run," Sarah called as her lawyer packed her things and ran for the door.
"Worthless piece of shit," Sarah growled, loud enough for the entire room to hear her. "I'll look your ass up when I get out, bitch!"
This story is dedicated to Maria.
Paul left me months ago.
Six long, lonely, dreary months of endless darkness and gloom. The weeks of crying, the days of yearning for a phone call, the nights of empty wine bottles and morning headaches were all behind me.
I was healthy now, ready for a chance at a new beginning. Life was looking fresh again. The sun was bright, the air was clean. I was finally whole without him. I had loved him so deeply. It had been unnatural, unsettling, and uncontrolled. Now I could find the paper and pen before me through the fog. I could see the vision and the words. I was writing again.
Looking back, I realized the bad times were barely lingering, whereas the good times were painted like a portrait in my mind. But a portrait painted by a clown, not an artist. All that time, what did we talk about? I remembered the drinking, the parties, his friends, the football games. All of it was one big celebration. We laughed, we had sex, and we laughed some more. I could not single out one time we had a serious conversation other than an in-depth analysis of his team's fortunes on the field.
Paul left me the night my sister was tragically killed in a car accident.