I stared at the magneficent being that stood before me. Four long, powerful legs. A muscle-ridden body. A long muzzle. The large, human-like teeth, chewing on a sugar cube. The beautiful, soft looking mane I longed to touch. She stood, taller than I was. I hopped onto her and rode into the sunset.

I loved your smile. I loved your laugh. I loved the way you were so comfortable around me. Loved, past tense. Now, I see your flaws. The rose-tinted glasses were broken into pieces. I see your bully-like tendencies. I see the way you treat everyone as if they are beneath you. Most of all I see the way you used me, the way you used my love against me. Now, when I see you in the halls all I can do is look away. I can’t do much because I loved you.

I wish I could forget. Forget the taunts, the insults, and the lies. The taunts made me insecure. The insults made me depressed. The lies made me anxious. I haven't been able to shake the thoughts you put into my head or the walls I had to build around my heart to survive. I wish I could erase the years I spent in Junior High. I wish to forget.

I stared at the number on the screen. I glanced down at my wrist, where a tatoo of the same numbers looked up at me. 02022020 flashed across the screen once more. The announcer read out the number. Tears pricked y eyes and blurred my vision. I had never thought my first meeting with Death would be so soon. A spotlight shone on me. I was pulled onstage by a security guard. A camera projected my tatoo onto a screen, the numbers matched. Every person here has had a tatoo with numbers tatooed on their wrists at birth. Today was the Day of Mortem and I am going to be the sacrifice.

[Mortem is Death in Latin]

I looked through the folder of my newest client. James Crow, owner of the social media company SnapIt. He was charged with the murder of Ginny Taylor, the daughter of the owner of PicGram, Zachariah Taylor. His car was seen driving away from Taylor’s house on the thirteenth and two hours later Ginny was found dead. His house and car were searched but no weapon was found. He was apprehended and his trial was tomorrow.

I went to my 2019 Aston Martin. I drove home thinking tomorrow’s trial would be a breeze. Little did I know, tomorrow would be the biggest test of character I would face in this lifetime. I woke the next morning to the blaring of my alarm. I stumbled into my walk-in closet and threw a navy blue suit on my bed As I went to take a shower. I felt much more relaxed after the shower. Fifteen minutes later I was on the road, driving towards the courthouse. I entered alongside the district attorney who was the one pressing charges against my client. I walked to my table and set my briefcase down. I pulled out the folders holding the evidence that my client had not been in the area. I stepped outside and made sure all the witnesses were attending. I walked back into the courtroom in time to see the Judge walk to his seat. I went back to my seat and watched as everyone filed in. My client walked in, being held by two officers with his wrists cuffed. The brought him to his spot at the table to my right. Judge Wendell banged his gavel on the table and called out “Order! Order in the court!” The courtroom quieted and the district attorney began with their evidence. I was able to counter all of theie evidence with my own when they called Miriam Jane, the housekeeper, to the stand. After she was sworn in the district attorney asked his questions. The last question the district attorney asked Ms. Jane was “Did you or did you not see the yellow Lamborghini with the license plate ‘ILUVMONEY’ as you went to the house for your shift?” My client scowled and muttered, “I drove the blue Lamborghini to their house, not the yellow.” Nobody heard him except me. I paused breifly and turned to the judge. “Your Honor, could we ask to see the Security Camera footage?” A security guard rolled an old TV into the courtroom. We all watched as a yellow Lamborghini passed the house slowly. I looked just past it to see a blue Lamborghini park across the street. I had two minutes to figure out what to do. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t hear the judge yell “Innocent!” I heard the gavel bang and looked up, comfused. When I saw the officers from the beginning of the trial take the handcuffs off Mr Crow I watched, horrified. Had I freed a murderer?