**A Remarkable Case**
«Your Honour, I withdraw my financial claim against the defendant,» Thomas said quietly. A murmur of disbelief rippled through the courtroom.
The judge, unfazed by most things, raised an eyebrow.
«Mr. Thompson, you understand this decision wont affect the verdict but will leave you uncompensated for your losses?»
«I do.»
Katherinedespite her youth, her colleagues called her by her full name out of respectcontinued typing without a flicker of emotion. After five years in this job, shed stopped being surprised by human pettiness or foolishness. Her role was to record it all, impartial as a train conductor carrying carriages of other peoples dramas.
The case against Lydia M. was the sort the press loved. Another con artist, cleverly duping «suitors» on dating sites. Four men, none of whom had ever met her, sent large sums to her account. Not one made it to a first date. To one, she spun a tale of family in a car crash; to another, a bitter divorce where even the cutlery was contested; to a third, a sick child
*Whats new?* Katherine thought as she prepared the files. Four grown men, seemingly successful, had cast themselves as knights in shining armour, believing money could rescue a damsel and buy true love. In reality, theyd been messaging a married mother of three.
Now they were all herethe defendant, the victims. Three were clenched fists of bitterness, demanding restitution, their words dripping with venom. They werent wrong. The law and logic were on their side. Katherine mechanically noted familiar phrases: *emotional distress, fraudulent misrepresentation, financial exploitation.*
The fourth, Thomas Thompson, sat apart. There was no anger in his posture, no self-pity. When he renounced his claim, the room fell silent. One of the men spun around.
«Have you lost your mind? She played you like the rest of us! That money probably bought her husband a new phone!»
Thomas looked at him with a quiet sadness.
«I understand. But she has three children. Let the money go to them. I dont need it back.»
Katherines eyes lifted in surprise. Generosity was rare in these walls. She studied his handsa welders hands, resting calmly on his kneesand his eyes, weary but unhardened. In a world where everyone fought for scraps, hed simply let go.
Later, one victims lawyer shook his head.
«That fourth ones a real romantic. Naïve as a child.»
Katherine, usually silent, countered:
«Its not naivety. Its strength. The kind no money can buy.»
Everyone fell quiet. Theyd never heard «Iron Kate» speak like that. Even she was surprised.
In the following sessions, she caught herself watching himhow he listened without interrupting, how his gaze lingered on the window as if searching the grey sky for answers no one else asked.
On the verdicts final day, he lingered in the corridor, looking lost. Katherine stepped out.
«Which way are you headed?» she asked, her tone clipped.
«Just got turned around in these hallways.»
«Exits that way.» She nodded.
«Thanks.»
He took a few steps before she called after him.
«Thomas?»
He turned, surprised.
«You were right,» she said, her voice softening. «About the children. It was decent of you.»
He studied her.
«You know, Katherine» He hesitated.
«Kate,» she offered.
«Kate. Kindness is rare, especially here. Thank you for noticing.»
He left. She watched him go, realising her long-disillusioned heart had just skipped a beat.
What followed? Rain. A downpour as Thomas stepped outside. He paused under the awning, debating whether to make a run for the bus stop.
A voice spoke behind him.
«Weve got a government-issue umbrella here. Meant for documents, but I think itll cover a decent man.»
It was Kate, holding a black umbrella. Her eyes held a flicker of uncertainty, as if she couldnt believe her own boldness.
«I dont want to keep you,» he said.
«My shifts over. Im walking to the park. If youre going that way»
They walked side by side beneath the umbrella, careful not to touch. The silence was comfortable.
«You always defend victims like that?» he finally asked.
«No. Never,» she admitted. «Youre the first who acted illogically. It struck me.»
«Maybe it was foolish.»
«It was rare. And rare things have value.»
At the park, the rain eased to a drizzle.
«Fancy a walk?» he asked. «If youre not in a hurry.»
Kate hesitated only a second. *Protocol breached, Katherine*, she thought, but nodded. Thomas gazed at the clearing sky. She gave him time.
«This is new for me,» he said suddenly. «People usually think Im strange.»
«Because you didnt turn bitter,» she murmured. «These days, thats practically eccentric.»
He met her eyes.
«And you? Do you think Im eccentric?»
«I think youre real,» she said. «Thats priceless. In my line of work, real is in short supply.»
He was quiet, then asked:
«Want to know why? Why I fell for it?»
She nodded.
Thomas exhaled, his voice steady, as if narrating someone elses life.
«It startedand endedin school. Her name was Lily. What I felt wasnt just love. She was everything. Light, beauty, the unattainable. We were *that* couplethe one everyone admired. I carried her books. We danced at prom. I was certain it was forever. So sure, I convinced everyone else too. We were the perfect pair.»
«Then she left. Went to a top university, married a classmate. Sent me a postcardjust a picture of London and three words: *Sorry. Its better this way.*»
«Everything shattered. I didnt drink, didnt rage. Just stopped feeling. Became a welderhid behind the mask, the noise. Built a fortress around my heart, but inside, that naïve boy still believed in one love for life.»
«When I saw *her* photo onlinethe con artistsomething woke in me. She looked like Lily. But it was the caption: *Still believe in love.* Pathetic, right? I messaged her. And she wrote back with words Id waited years to hearabout forever, loyalty, something real. It was the key to my fortress. I wanted the fairy tale so badly, I ignored the red flags. I didnt fall for *her* lies. I fell for the echo of my own dream. I needed proof that love like Lilys wasnt a delusion.»
«Funny thing? The trial didnt punish me. It freed me. At first, I was humiliated. Then I saw herjust a scared, pitiful womanand the illusion vanished. Lilys ghost finally left me. The money? A fee for my exorcism. Pricey, but effective.»
He fell silent, awaiting her verdicta condemnation of his naivety. Instead, Kate placed her hand over his. Hers was warm, steady.
«Thank you for telling me,» she said softly. «Now I understand. Youre not eccentric. Youre true to yourself.»
***
At work, Kate was known for her formalitystrict, reserved, all business. No personal life. When colleagues spotted her with Thomaswaiting for her after shiftsthey were stunned.
Judge Margaret, a woman whose glare could halt criminals mid-stride, broke the silence first:
«Well, Katherines surprised me. Thought she had a filing cabinet for a heart. Now lookromancing the victim with principles.»
Her colleague, Judge Ian, smirked.
«With his naivety, hes more like a defendant for excessive gullibility. Katherines reforming him, is she?»
«Enough cynicism,» Margaret chided, though her lips twitched. «The mans hardworking, skilled. And what he did wasnt standard. Principles over profit? Rare in our line.»
In the break room, barrister Steven spread his hands.
«Didnt expect romance in a courtroom. Feels like a TV drama.»
Kate hadnt softened professionally, but sometimes she smiled at her phone. She wore a thin silver chain now, a new detail.
Behind her back, the office splitcynics versus romantics.
The men muttered about «saving hopeless knights» and joked, «Better prep for a wedding invite. Youll be witnesses: Yes, I saw the defendant steal the clerks heart.»
The women, especially younger ones, sighed. «Its beautiful! Katherines always so stern, untouchable. And hes wounded but kind. And handsome. Its like a novel!»
Accountant Patricia scowled.
«Oh, hush. Weve forgotten what real feeling looks like. A good mans rarer than honesty here. Kates smart. Let her have this.»
One morning, over coffee, Ian feigned innocence:
«Katherine, hows your noble rescuer? Filed any more generous lawsuits lately?»
The room stilled, awaiting her wrath.
Kate sipped her coffee, set it down, and fixed him with a clear gaze.
«Ian, if youre so interested in closed cases, I can grant full archive access. Fancy revisiting Case 3-452/18? Or 2-187/19? Such *colourful* characters there.»
Silence. Ian choked on his coffee. He knewKate had managed his cases too. Knew things hed rather forget.
«No-no, Katherine! Just friendly curiosity.»
«How kind,» she said sweetly. «But my private life isnt up for judgment. Yet.»
The teasing stopped. Replaced by puzzled respect. The climax came when Thomas dropped her off in his modest but tidy car, adjusting her coat collara gesture so tender, any remaining doubts dissolved.
That day, Margaret pulled her aside.
«Kate hes good. It shows. Hold onto him.»
The only «ruling» Katherine accepted without objection. She just nodded.
«Thank you, Margaret. I know.»
The gossip faded. Colleagues understood: their unflappable clerk, keeper of order and protocol, had sentenced herself*Pardoned. To love. To be happy.* And there would be no appeal.
