1

        Wearing a long sleeved white polo, a pair of black jeans and white sneakers, she took steps forward, reaching towards the witness stand, escorted by a security, her hands in front of her – handcuffed.

She committed a crime, that’s how people see it. She disobeyed a law, that’s how they say it. She acted against her own job as a lawyer, people are so ashamed of her. But none of those judgments and criticisms from other people are the reason for her head hanging low as of the moment…

She’s feeling more than just ashamed, or humiliated.

She’s broken, she’s devastated, she’s betrayed, but she’s feeling guilty, sorry and frightened. All her honors are now gone, she does have nothing to hold onto anymore, her professionalism, her reputation as a lawyer, her intelligence, her love.

Upon reaching the witness stand, one of the securities unlocked her handcuffs, and guided her to stand there, on the podium, to, “Please raise your right hand to take the oath,” pledge.

She looked directed to the people watching her court trial, her eyes scanned each and every face that are all showing disgust, disappointment and fear. And before raising her hand, she let out a small yet thick sigh, and raised her chin up.

“Please repeat the words…”

She took a deep breathe, then looked at nowhere as she followed…

“I, name, do solemnly,” she repeated…

“I, Ahn Yujin, do solemnly,”

“Sincerely and truly declare and affirm that…”

She always hears this oath, several months would not pass by without her hearing this as a lawyer, but it is somehow fascinating for her… to hear it from her own mouth, with her own voice coming out through her lips.

After the oath, she was requested to sit, and a microphone is in front of her, attached to the desk, for her words to be audible for everyone as the lawyer from the other party will start to ask her for information.

“Attorney Miyawaki Sakura, please proceed.”  Commanded by the judge.

The mentioned prosecutor is looking at her with those fiery eyes, anger and hatred are visible, but in a split second, she saw a smirk forming on the prosecutor’s lips.

Right, this is Attorney Miyawaki’s chance to be the best in the field, to be the most known and highly recommended one. She’s one of her rivals and her downfall must be a pretty sight to Miyawaki.

“Ahn Yujin.”  Loud enough for everyone, Sakura called her with no formalities at all.

“I have three questions, just… simple three questions.”  Yujin watched the lawyer walk from a distance to a closer proximity, confident and looking well-prepared for this cross-examination.

“One. This woman sitting here…”   Yujin’s eyes landed on the woman, the woman who caused this all, the woman she loved the most, and still loves the most, despite of all of this trouble.

“Is your wife, right?”  The whole atmosphere inside the courtroom became thicker than it is already, the air they are inhaling seems to be heavier, like the oxygen suddenly became insufficient as everyone waited for Yujin to answer.

Her eyes just gazed at the mentioned woman, she can feel her heartbeats fading, contradictory to how her heart pounds before these things happened, especially on that day she met her, the day she saw the purest, most innocent yet strong image.