The clanging of the grey shiny cuffs on my wrist. The pain from them digging in from being to tight. The bright orange pants stare back at my face mocking me.

“Daniel.” The soft voice of the judge rings out in my head bringing me back to my senses. Moving my head up I look at the judges eyes, my breathing becoming short and shallow. The sweat on my hands getting a bit more sweaty.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I slowly push my chair back forcing my legs to hold my body weight as I stood up. I glance at my lawyer and then the judge as she spoke up “Will you please make your way to the stand please?”

I just give her a small nod and walk towards the stand. I don’t want to put up a fight, I already have enough on me that putting up a fight would just prove me more guilty. As I sat down on the chair provided, my legs gave out the moment I hit the chair.

“Did you kill the victim?” The judge looked at me. Even though I was only looking at her I could feel every pair of eyes in the room fixed on me. The feeling of anger and disappointment coming from those eyes seeped into my bones.

“No I did not kill the victim, ma’am.” I repeated for the seven time today. Out of old habit, my finger goes to the base of my pointer finger where my ring, I used for my anxiety, use to be.

“Where were you the night of the murder?” The judge asked, hearing the typing of the typewriter recording every word we said.

“I was at home watching the Seahawks football game that night.” I reply back not hesitating on my answer.

“Did you have anyone that could verify you were at home?” I watch the judge mouth move as she folds her hands.

“No ma’am. I live alone and do not having any friends around since I did just move here.” I say as confident as possible. “But I believe there is security video of me coming into my apartment for the night and not leaving again that night.” I look up at her making eye contact to let her know this is true.

She glances at my lawyer as he nods as away of saying he has the video. “Do you mind playing the video then?” A dude nods at her response as he gets up and walks to the tv sliding in the dvd as it starts playing.

The tape shows me walking into my apartment before the murder happened, fast forwarding to morning, I do not come out until the afternoon after the murder.

The judge sat there staring at the security video then turned to the other lawyer, “You accused this man of the murder, when he had video evidence that he was in his own home the entire time the murder was said to happen?”

The lawyer looked down in shame, you could tell on his face he didn’t know of this evidence. Without a moment to think, the judge slammed her hammer down. “This case is here by dismissed. The suspect by proof of security video is proven not guilty.” She smiled at me, one of those sad sorry smiles.

As I hear the words I’ve been longing to hear, my entire body shoots up with excitement. I am free. I am not going to jail. Soon enough I get pulled out of my thoughts to a police officer pulling up my arms and uncuffing me.

I was fully free now.