On showing up.

In the completely silent room, my book slid off my lap and landed on the floor with a sudden thwack. The person beside me jumped in their seat at the sound. She shot me a look, the kind that says you gotta be kidding, and I half-whispered an apology to whoever could hear. Is there anything worse than knowing everyone’s watching?

You did something important here, the judge said before sending us on our way. It was still early enough in the day that it was morning, so that hardly seemed possible. Silly, even! But, I thought, heading out into sunshine much too warm for January, there are stupider things to believe in.