Hurting Souls is a Sin

The day seemed to be only black and white. Grey or muted brown suits filled up the entrance to the courthouse. All older men. But one young girl. Me. My lawyer leaded me with my shoulders to our seats. I replied with a muted thank you and took my seat. I smoothed down my blue dress that was tight on me. It was taking the breath out of me as I tried to sit up straight. I felt eyes linger on me as the trial was about to start. "Attention gentlemen-" the announcer used to look at me and quickly added, "And lady...." I wanted to roll my eyes but I couldn't start on a negative note. I had to win these people over. "We are here today on the murder of a very successful millionaire, Mr. Grausam. We have um... Miss...." He pronounces my last my name wrong and I immediately stand up and speak aloud, " Schuldig. My last name is pronounced, Schuldig." My lawyer grabs my wrist to pull me down to my seat. I look around and I nervously smile and then sit down quickly. The judge then said in a loud mumble, "whatever she said...." The men in the room started to laugh obnoxiously loud. I positioned my hands on my lap so nobody could see they were balled into fists from anger. "This young lady is being put to trial for allegedly murdering this man with four bullets." The crowd goes silent. My lawyer then whispers into my ear, "You are going to have to ask questions now. So you just have to sit over there-" I interrupted him and said harshly in a whisper, "yes, I know how this works. I'm not an idiot." He smiles weakly and nods. I walk over to the seat and sit down, feeling my palms sweat. "Young lady..." The other lawyer started to speak. "Did you know the man that was murdered three days ago?" I nod and say a polite yes. "Were you acquaintances, friends...?" I replied, "I barely knew the man. I had only met him once." Lie number one. He then yells, "Then why were you there?" I kept my voice calm and said, "My mother worked for him. And sometimes I would walk with her after work to the market." Lie number two. The other lawyer leaned right into my face and said, "Which market? Hm?" I lean back and reply as if it was common sense. "The um, market that is right across the street from the building my mother worked at?" Lie number three. The man stepped back and scoffed and turned to the crowd but whispered to me, "You can sit down now, brat." He then spoke loud saying, "This girl is obviously trying to play the young girl that is innocent card. Don't fall for it!" I sit down next to my lawyer and he said, "you can zone out for the rest. You probably won't be asked any other questions." I nod and think about that night. It was my mother's birthday. I decided to walk with her back home so we could have some bonding time, since we never really had any. I was waiting outside the building when I heard a crash. I thought it was a burglar so I grabbed a broom I saw outside for sweeping the stairs leading up to the doors and opened the door and crept inside. All the lights were off. 'The other workers must've left already...' I thought I was smart in this situation. I wasn't until I saw a light coming from a room. I walked over slowly and took a peek. I saw my mother bleeding out on the floor, with a gunshot wound in the middle of her forehead. I then saw Mr. Grausam on his knees with his back towards me. He was praying for forgiveness. He wasn't crying or shaking. No. He was calm. And I was also calm when I picked up the gun, checked the bullets, and aimed it at him. He stood up and turned around, with all of the color leaving his face. "Bitte nicht...." Please don't. He was begging me not to pull the trigger. I shake my head. "After what you've done to me and my mother, I cannot spare you." "Meine schwester, you must know it was only a one time stand!" I shake my head again. "You assaulted me several times, idiot." He immediately lunged for the gun but I pulled the trigger just in time. As if some force pushed him away from me, he crumpled to the ground next to my mother. I shot him three more times. Because cruelty can never die. I leaned close to my mother and closed her eyelids. I kissed her forehead and prayed to God to help her find her way into heaven. I then turned to the deceased body of the worst man on Earth. I pushed him away from my mother and- "Young lady!" I wake up from the trance. The other lawyer started at me with annoyance. "Did you kill this very successful, respected man?" I thought about me sitting at his side as I watched flies start to eat his body. I thought about how his blood stained the perfect white marble floor. I remembered the sounds of the flies passing by my ears as they were starting to arrive to eat both bodies. I remember the police doing nothing about my mother's case. They only cared about the cruel man. I remember throwing the gun away. I remember taking my mother's necklace that mein vater gave to her. I remember throwing Mr. Grausam's body off the building. I remember cussing at his body. He killed my mother. He killed the passion inside of me. I still hate him. So did I? Yes, I did. But to make it burn for Mr. Grausam, I am determined to get away with it. I will get away with this. I looked up at the corrupted lawyer and broke the silence that was paused for me. I spoke soothingly, "Ich würde niemals einer Seele wehtun."

I would never hurt a soul.