Until

He looked around his jail cell. Some roaches scurried through the bars where he had been resting his hands, standing up against the oppression, the injustice, the law that had been decreed.

“Prisoner Memphis Caleb!” the corrections officer hollered to the jailed man. “Your lawyer’s here.”

The tan jumpsuit that Caleb wore matched the drabness all around. Gray and blue hues everywhere painted a portrait of quiet vice.

When Caleb entered the room, he smelled the concrete and sweat. He saw the woman who would defend him.

“Memphis…you look good,” Havina Jefferies remarked.

“You really are a lawyer,” he spoke with a wry tone.

“Alright, guilty until proven innocent. I know they switched it around. But it doesn’t mean you're always going to be guilty.”

“How is that? I never even saw her that day. I was in Delaware. Someone butchered her in New Jersey.”

“I think the jury’s going to take that into account.” She didn’t even realize her lies and bland diction.

“I just want to let them know….” Caleb trailed.

“Know what?”

“I might be guilty right now but the towering amount of physical evidence will free me from this cage.”

“I see that happening. That’s what I’m talking about. We have a case where the burden of proof will be on us, and ironically, the conviction rate has plummeted in America.”

Caleb looked around. The flicker from the light above cast a yellowish light upon the grayness.

Havina sighed and placed her hand on Caleb’s. He withdrew quickly.

“You’re upset, I get it,” she replied.

Caleb scoffed and looked her in the eyes. They could peer into their thoughts, frustrations, and hopes for redemption with one look.

“We’re going to fight this,” Havina declared. “We’re going to win. The jury’s going to see it all soon….”