His name was Adrien. Sixteen years old. A boy with dark hair and quiet eyes. On the surface, calm, polite, with a shy smile, but inside... full of wounds that never found a voice. His home was no place for peace; his father was often drunk, his voice louder than understanding or love, and his mother? A mother always chasing fleeting pleasures, someone who laughed at Adrien’s cries rather than listened.
But today was different. Today, he sat in a courtroom. On a wooden bench, with slumped shoulders and eyes trembling with anxiety. Holding court teddy bear that thay give to children. The room was cold, but the real chill came from memories of dark nights spent in the basement of that house.
Opposite him stood a man: Neil Archer. A famous lawyer, a man with successful cases, a safe home, and a heart that... still couldn’t believe it could beat for a child.
Neil had first seen Adrien outside a small store; his clothes torn, his cheek bruised, and his gaze... the gaze of someone who had long believed they were invisible. Neil couldn’t turn away. For the first time, after years living between law and the cruelty of courts, his heart trembled for something other than winning a case.
And now he was here. By Adrien’s side, he defended him. Adrien, who didn’t speak but whose scars spoke louder than any words.
A silent tear slipped from his eye. Landing on an old wound on his cheek. A faint sting... but more than that, it was a shame he didn’t know the cause of. Maybe from being seen? Maybe because for the first time, someone stood up to protect him?
Neil stepped forward. His voice firm but choked with emotion. “Your Honor... this child is nothing but a victim. A victim of two people who only bear the name ‘parents.’ We have official forensic evidence; marks of beating, repeated bruises, old fractures... Adrien has the right to live. The right to laugh, to feel safe, and to sleep without fear of fists or insults. Please... let justice decide with its heart this time.”
The judge lifts his head and glances at Adrien. Pauses for a moment, then in a soft voice asks: “Adrien... do you have anything to say?”
Adrian whispered: "I don’t want to be hit so hard with a baseball bat that the bat breaks anymore...
The judge, who had been sitting with a serious and formal expression until that moment, suddenly looked shocked and moved. His eyes, usually hidden behind his glasses, filled with tears. He gently placed his hand on the desk and took a deep breath. His voice trembled and softened: "I promise you, justice will be served here, and you will never be alone again." "You are the bravest person I have seen here today."
The judge leans back slightly. Looks at the documents. Breathes out slowly. And with a serious tone says:
“The court will make its decision. Until the official ruling, temporary custody of this youth is granted to Mr. Neil Archer.”
At that moment, Neil quietly kneels beside him, giving a faint smile and asking: “Adrien, shall we go home?”