The room was brightly lit, people sitting silently waiting for the trial to begin. I sat nervously waiting. Waiting to be judged. It was like sitting under a spot light, all eyes were on me, watching my every action, looking at me with disgust. Muttering words of shock and disapproval.

The door at the other end swung open and there stood the man who the rest of my life depended on. The man who stood tall at the door. The room went silent, everyone stood up and watched as the judge approched the stand, then everyone sat back down. The trial had begun.

Would Liam Jenkins please approch the stand Asked the Lawyer with a smirk on his face. I start to panic. Liam had came in after the fight, he saw nothing, well that’s what I hoped. I could have arrested Tom Jenkins, if it wasn’t for him pulling out that knife. But it’s too late now Liam would tell the court how I brutally murdered his precious daddy and that’ll be that, the end of me. No more, DS John Boulton.

Mr Jenkins could you please tell the court what happened that night Liam took evenly measured breaths. Please take your time Mr. Jenkins. Said his lawyer, still with a smirk on his face.

I came in from a long day at work, I heard shouting in the kitchen, so I walked in to see what was happening. He stopped and took another breath. Then that’s when I saw DS Boulton stabbing my father. I tried to stop him, but it was too late, he was dead! A tear was present in his eye.

Thank you, please step down. Liam nodded and walked off shielding his face.

The trial was now finished, and the judge began to speak. The court finds you John Anthony Boulton, guilty of murder, and there by sentence you to life in prison. My mouth went dry as I began to shake. Questions went through my head. Why me? Why now? I could not believe this was really happening to me.

The guards approached me and slapped a pair of handcuffs on. I was on my way back to prison, into a dark hell, to think about my crime.

A week later, I sat in my cell alone, to think. Images of that night eating at my soul. I kept thinking, if only it turned out differently then I wouldn’t be here in this mess.

I kept telling myself it wasn’t my fault, in the end I was forced into it, by him. I was defending myself. I cannot deny the feeling of satisfaction when I saw him lying there in pain. He was just another drug dealer I got off the streets. But now if, I had known how terrible it would feel afterwards, then maybe he would still be alive now. But I will never know.

My guilt is driving me crazy, I can’t stand this place anymore. The guards treat you like a monster. Some of them are scared of me and others believe that I should be taught a lesson. I don’t blame them, I could argue my reasons for killing him, but I know what I did was wrong. Who am I to take someone else’s life?

The door opened to my cell and one of the guards walked in. You have a visitor waiting to see you. He said with a small smile on his face. He tells me to follow him. We walk into a small room where a man was sitting tapping his fingers on the table in front of him. It was Liam.

I sat down beside him at the table and we talked about my situation. He told me he would do everything in his power to get me out of here. I laughed bitterly. I could not believe it was the same spoiled little boy I knew and hated. But now I saw a caring side to him and it made me smile.

When I went back to my cell I felt like now I was forgiven. The weight was lifted off my shoulders and I had something to look forward to Freedom.