Gemotions

The courtroom was stifling, the air thick with tension. Daniel shifted in his chair, the scratchy wool of his suit a constant irritant. He felt a constant burning sensation, like he wanted to jump out of his skin. The judge's droning voice grated on his ears.

He'd been waiting for an hour, and the lawyer was still "preparing." He couldn't understand the delay. He wanted it over, finished, dealt with.

His gaze swept the room, finally locking onto a woman on the opposite side. Her head was tilted, her posture rigid, her eyes darting around the room, as if searching for an escape route.

She met his stare and gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod.

"It's the time," she mouthed. "It's always the time."