As I sat down on of the wooden benches, I tuned into Easton’s booming voice. I didn’t really look up until I’d settled into my seat, but when I zeroed in on him, he seemed to be in complete control of the room. He was in one of his Tom Ford suits, hair, shoes, tie, everything perfectly in place as he addressed the jury. Hands in his pockets, body relaxed and casual, but his words were strident. He was talking about the victim, about what her life had been like before she was assaulted, what her life was like now. The strength it took for her to seek justice. After a breath, his relaxed pose turned more commanding. As if to say, “I’m done taking it easy on you.”

When he spoke again, every word was an edict. “I ask today that you take the duty this court gives you and deliver the justice Ms. Suarez deserves.”

With that, he ended his summation and in two long strides was back at his table. Every person in the room seemed to cut off the imaginary strings he’d kept us on as he talked. Easton had completely commanded our attention and now that the moment ended, we could all take a breath.

That’s when I realized it. This is where it all went. The fierceness, the fury, the intensity, he put it all into this. His work was where Easton unleashed all that passion I got to see, but that he rarely showed elsewhere. I finally realized that, like me, Easton kept his true self tightly under wraps, only a precious few got to ever see who he really was.

I sat there letting it sink in as the judge gave the jury their instructions for deliberation, before concluding for the day. As people started gathering their things and the twelve tasked with delivering justice were ushered away, I moved up the aisle to go talk to Easton. As I got to him I saw an older black woman, come to give him a hug, which he returned. There were people walking around him but it was like he didn’t even realize they were there, his attention completely on her. They stepped out of the room, talking quietly, not noticing my approach.

By the time I caught up with him, she was giving him another hug and openly crying. He tightened his arm around her, and I could see he was working hard not to cry too. He watched her walk away, his shoulders tense, like the weight of the world was settled right between them.

I wasn’t sure what I thought Easton did in this building every day. But right then was when it sunk in. People counted on him to right wrongs every single day and he stepped up to that challenge. He somehow handled it all and still managed to be how he was, who he was.