The 12-Minute Interview
No Catharsis, Just Form
Minute 1
INTERVIEWER: State your name for the record.
WITNESS: I already did.
INTERVIEWER: State it again.
WITNESS: Mara.
INTERVIEWER: Full name.
WITNESS: Mara Elling.
INTERVIEWER: Do you understand why you’re here.
WITNESS: You said there was an incident.
INTERVIEWER: Do you recall the incident.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: Not at all.
WITNESS: That’s what I said.
The clock on the wall clicks once, marking the end of the minute.
Minute 2
INTERVIEWER: Describe your activities between 18:00 and 19:00 yesterday.
WITNESS: I was home.
INTERVIEWER: Alone.
WITNESS: Yes.
INTERVIEWER: You live alone.
WITNESS: Yes.
INTERVIEWER: No visitors.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: No calls.
WITNESS: I don’t think so.
INTERVIEWER: You don’t think so.
WITNESS: I don’t remember checking.
The clock clicks.
Minute 3
INTERVIEWER: At 18:42, your neighbor reported a loud noise from your residence.
WITNESS: I didn’t hear anything.
INTERVIEWER: You were home.
WITNESS: Yes.
INTERVIEWER: Awake.
WITNESS: I think so.
INTERVIEWER: You think so.
WITNESS: I don’t sleep at that time.
INTERVIEWER: But you don’t recall hearing the noise.
WITNESS: No.
The clock clicks.
Minute 4
INTERVIEWER: When officers entered your residence, they found you sitting on the floor.
WITNESS: If you say so.
INTERVIEWER: You don’t remember.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: You were holding an object.
WITNESS: I don’t know what it was.
INTERVIEWER: It was a ceramic mug.
WITNESS: Okay.
INTERVIEWER: The mug was broken.
WITNESS: I drop things sometimes.
INTERVIEWER: You were not standing.
WITNESS: I said I don’t remember.
The clock clicks.
Minute 5
INTERVIEWER: The paramedics noted blood on your hands.
WITNESS: Mine.
INTERVIEWER: You’re certain.
WITNESS: It must’ve been.
INTERVIEWER: You had no injuries.
WITNESS: Then I don’t know.
INTERVIEWER: You don’t know whose blood it was.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: You made no attempt to explain at the time.
WITNESS: I didn’t know what to say.
The clock clicks.
Minute 6
INTERVIEWER: At 18:55, a second noise was reported.
WITNESS: I didn’t hear that either.
INTERVIEWER: You were conscious.
WITNESS: I guess.
INTERVIEWER: You guess.
WITNESS: I don’t know what you want me to say.
INTERVIEWER: I want you to answer the question.
WITNESS: Then no, I don’t remember.
The clock clicks.
Minute 7
INTERVIEWER: A person was found in your residence.
WITNESS: I didn’t invite anyone.
INTERVIEWER: The person was found in the hallway.
WITNESS: I don’t know how they got there.
INTERVIEWER: You don’t recognize them.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: You’ve never seen them before.
WITNESS: I don’t think so.
INTERVIEWER: You don’t think so.
WITNESS: I said I don’t remember.
The clock clicks.
Minute 8
INTERVIEWER: The person was unresponsive.
WITNESS: I didn’t do anything.
INTERVIEWER: That wasn’t the question.
WITNESS: Then I don’t know what to say.
INTERVIEWER: Do you recall approaching them.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: Do you recall speaking to them.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: Do you recall touching them.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: Yet their blood was on your hands.
WITNESS: I told you—I don’t remember.
The clock clicks.
Minute 9
INTERVIEWER: The medical examiner identified the cause of injury.
WITNESS: Injury.
INTERVIEWER: Yes.
WITNESS: I didn’t hurt anyone.
INTERVIEWER: That wasn’t the question.
WITNESS: Then what is the question?
INTERVIEWER: Do you recall any struggle?
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: Any shouting?
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: Any contact at all?
WITNESS: No.
The clock clicks.
Minute 10
INTERVIEWER: The object that caused the injury was found beside you.
WITNESS: The mug.
INTERVIEWER: No.
WITNESS: Then what?
INTERVIEWER: A metal figurine.
WITNESS: I don’t own one.
INTERVIEWER: It was on your shelf.
WITNESS: I don’t remember it.
INTERVIEWER: You don’t remember many things.
WITNESS: That’s what I’ve been saying.
The clock clicks.
Minute 11
INTERVIEWER: The person in your hallway was your brother.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: His ID was in his wallet.
WITNESS: He doesn’t visit.
INTERVIEWER: He visited yesterday.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: You’re certain.
WITNESS: He wouldn’t.
INTERVIEWER: But he did.
WITNESS: I don’t remember.
INTERVIEWER: You don’t remember your own brother entering your home.
WITNESS: No.
The clock clicks.
Minute 12
INTERVIEWER: Your brother was the one who signed your medical consent forms last year.
WITNESS: I don’t remember that.
INTERVIEWER: He was the one who stayed with you after the procedure.
WITNESS: I don’t remember.
INTERVIEWER: He was the one who brought you groceries when you couldn’t walk.
WITNESS: I don’t—
INTERVIEWER: He was the one who visited yesterday.
WITNESS: I said I don’t remember.
INTERVIEWER: He knocked.
WITNESS: I didn’t hear it.
INTERVIEWER: He called your name.
WITNESS: I didn’t hear him.
INTERVIEWER: He entered.
WITNESS: I don’t remember.
INTERVIEWER: He tried to help you.
WITNESS: I don’t—
INTERVIEWER: You struck him.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: With the figurine.
WITNESS: No.
INTERVIEWER: You were found holding it.
WITNESS: I don’t remember.
INTERVIEWER: You were found beside him.
WITNESS: I don’t remember.
INTERVIEWER: You were found saying his name.
WITNESS: I don’t—
INTERVIEWER: Over and over.
WITNESS: I don’t—
INTERVIEWER: Until your voice gave out.
WITNESS: I don’t—
INTERVIEWER: And then you stopped speaking entirely.
WITNESS: I don’t—
INTERVIEWER: Do you remember now?
WITNESS:
…
…
No.
The clock clicks.
The interview ends.
About the Creator
Alexandria Hypatia
A philosopher and Libra to the fullest. I have always enjoyed writing as well as reading. My hope is that someday, at least one of my written thoughts will resonate and spark discussions of acceptance and forgiveness for humanity.
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