Even from this distance, she could see his fingernails bitten down to the quick and her body tensed instinctively, resisting the urge to run towards her son. It would only make things worse. Instead, she caught his eye and reassured him with a confident smile.

This will soon all be over, and everything will go back to normal.

Those had been her mother’s words as they had all left the house that morning. She’d noticed her son’s light brown hair had grown and it desperately needed cutting, but he’d resisted a haircut and instead combed it down with some gel. It was coarse hair, like her own, but unlike hers, it hadn’t been subjected to various treatments. Had it only been six months ago that she’d laughingly squirted her son’s stubborn tufts with water, threatening to tame his hair herself if he didn’t do something about it? He’d giggled then, rewarding her with a glimpse back into his childhood when she used to tickle him as he sat on her lap for story time.

The memory assaulted her and her right hand involuntarily went to grasp her husband’s, despite the gulf between the two of them. She could feel the tension emanate from him and she gently squeezed his fingers before releasing them and placing both of her hands together in prayer on her lap, reverting to her own childhood habit. She focused on her crossed thumbs, right over left, the usually long, manicured nails bare and jagged, and began the silent chant.

Everything will be all right. Everything will be all right. Everything will be all—

‘All rise!’

She quickly got to her feet, her eyes urgently seeking her son’s once more as the judge swept into the room, but all she could see was his taut back and the nape of his long neck as he looked at the ground. Head up, she wanted to cry out. You’ve done nothing wrong!

The judge indicated for the court to sit before the clerk spoke.

‘Would the foreman of the jury please stand,’ instructed the clerk.

Claire noticed the foreman was wearing a wedding band. Most likely he had kids himself. Surely, he wouldn’t let an innocent child be convicted for something he didn’t do? She caught herself on the word child. He was almost eighteen. If found guilty, he would be sent to an adult prison along with the country’s worst offenders.

‘Have the jury reached verdicts upon which they are all agreed?’ asked the clerk.

‘Yes,’ replied the foreman.

They couldn’t take him away. Could they?

She felt her chest tighten.

Everything will be all right. Everything will be all right. Everything will be all right.

Her throat was closing, and she coughed frantically.

Everything will be all right. Everything will be all right. Everything will be all right.