The Curious Case
«Your Honour, I withdraw any financial claims against the defendant,» Arthur said quietly. A murmur of disbelief rippled through the courtroom.
The judge, accustomed to every manner of spectacle, arched a brow.
«Mr. Whitmore, you understand this decision wont affect the verdict but will forfeit your right to compensation?»
«I do.»
Katherine Edwardsreferred to by colleagues as «Miss Edwards» despite her youthcontinued typing without a flicker of emotion. Five years in this job had hardened her to human folly. Her duty was to record, impartial as a train conductor, the endless carriages of others’ misfortunes.
The case against Lydia H. was the sort the papers relisheda con artist whod duped four men through a dating site, spinning tales of emergencies to extract money without a single meeting. One believed her family had been in an accident; another, that her ex-husband was seizing every penny; a third, that her child was ill.
«Whats new?» Katherine thought dryly, preparing the files. Four grown men, playing knights to a damsel who existed only in pixels. In reality, she was a mother of three.
Now they were all herethe defendant, the victims. Three sat stiff with outrage, demanding restitution, their words venomous. They werent wrong. The law was on their side. Katherine mechanically noted phrases: «emotional distress,» «fraudulent misrepresentation,» «financial exploitation.»
Arthur Whitmore sat apart. No anger, no pity. When he renounced his claim, the room stilled. One victim spun around, aghast:
«Have you lost your mind? She played you for a fool! That money probably bought her husband a new phone!»
Arthur met his gaze, oddly mournful.
«I understand. But she has three children. Let the money go to them. I dont need it back.»
Katherine looked up, startled. Generosity was rare in these walls. His handsa welders, calloused and clasped calmlyand his eyes, devoid of bitterness, held her attention. In a world of grasping, hed simply let go.
Later, a lawyer shook his head. «What a romantic. Naive as a child.»
Katherine, usually silent, countered: «Not naive. Strong. Strength money cant buy.»
The room fell silent. Even she was surprised.
In the following sessions, she caught herself watching himhow he listened without interruption, how his gaze lingered on the window as if searching the grey sky for answers only he sought.
On the verdicts final day, he lingered in the corridor, disoriented. Katherine approached.
«Which way out?» he asked, smiling faintly.
She pointed. «There.»
He turned to leave, but she called after him.
«Arthur?»
He looked back, puzzled.
«You were right,» she said, her voice unsteady. «About the children. It was decent.»
He studied her.
«Katherine» He hesitated.
«Kate,» she offered.
«Kate. Kindness is rare everywhere, not just here. Thank you for noticing.»
As he left, she realised her long-dormant heart was beating faster.
What followed? Raina downpour as Arthur stepped outside. He paused under the awning, debating a dash to the bus stop.
A voice spoke behind him.
«Weve a court-issue umbrella. Meant for documents, but I suppose itll do for a decent man.»
Kate held out a black umbrella, her expression uncharacteristically tentative.
«I wont keep you,» he said.
«My shifts over. Im walking to the park. If youre headed that way»
They walked side by side, careful not to touch. The silence was easy.
«Do you always defend victims?» he asked.
«Never,» she admitted. «Youre the first to act against logic. It struck me.»
«Foolish, perhaps.»
«Rare. And rarity has value.»
At the park, the rain eased to a drizzle.
«Walk a while?» he asked. «If youve time.»
She hesitated only a second. «Protocol breached, Miss Edwards,» she chided herselfbut nodded.
Arthur stared at the clearing sky.
«This is new,» he said, clearly not referring to the scam. «Most think me odd.»
«You didnt turn bitter. These days, thats eccentric.»
He met her eyes.
«And you? Do I seem a fool?»
«You seem real. Thats priceless. In my line of work, real is scarce.»
A pause. Then:
«Want to know why? Why I fell for her lies?»
She nodded.
He sighed.
«It beganand endedat school. Her name was Lily. What I felt wasnt just love. She was everything. Light, beauty, the unattainable. We were that couplethe one people whispered about. I carried her books. We danced at prom. I believed, utterly, it was forever. Even convinced others. We were a local legendthe perfect pair.»
His voice flattened.
«Then she left. Prestigious university in London, married a classmate. Sent me a postcardjust three words: Sorry. Its better.»
The world hollowed. He didnt drink, didnt rage. Just stopped feeling. Became a welderhid behind the masks roar. Built walls, yet inside, the boy who believed in one true love remained.
«And when I saw that photo onlinethe scammershe looked like Lily. But it was the caption: Still believe in love. Foolish, yes? I wrote back. And she replied with the words Id waited years to hearof forever, of loyalty. It wasnt her I wanted. It was proof that love like mine wasnt folly.»
The trial, he said, freed him. Seeing the real womanfrightened, pitifulshattered the illusion. The ghost of Lily vanished. The money? A fee for exorcism. «Steep, but effective.»
He waited, braced for her verdict.
Instead, Kate covered his hand with hers. Warm. Steady.
«Thank you for telling me,» she murmured. «I understand now. Youre not odd. Youre true to yourself. The rain had stopped, leaving the park glistening under a hesitant sun. A single bird called from the trees, then another. Arthur looked at her hand on his, then into her eyesso steady, so clearand felt something long frozen begin to crack. «I dont know what happens now,» he admitted. «But for the first time in years, I dont mind not knowing.» Kate smiled, small and sure. «Then lets just walk.» And they did, slowly, side by side, as if the world had reset, and everything had changed without a sound.
