Another Rendez-Vous

Knock-knock.
“Yes?” I yell.
“Good afternoon, Judge Harris,” says my secretary, Layne, from behind my office’s closed door. Layne continues in a voice that seems hesitant and nervous, “Remember, the first trial begins at 3pm- that’s in two hours. You’ve already pushed it back twice.”
“I know, I know. I’m getting ready now!” I respond with a sigh. Even though we both know that’s a lie- I’ve only just arrived.

The Loudest Silence

We were on our way out of the building when it happened. The halls were almost empty; the usual after-school rush had faded. The three of us cut through the wing by the theatre to save a few steps on the way to the parking lot. It should have been nothing.