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It's tuesday, and Felix is woken up by his alarm.

"Ah shut up." The boy slams his hand onto his phone to silence it. He rolls back over in his bed and stares at the ceiling. "I really have to do this, don't I?"

"Felix you're in Australia now, stop speaking Korean because I don't know what you're saying." Felix turns to see his dad standing in the now open doorway.

"Of course. My apologies." Felix rolls his eyes and tumbles out of bed.

"Get up and get ready. I don't have time for your BS."

"Yeah yeah." Felix says, pushing his dad back out the doorway so he can change. He closes the door and turns to his closet, pulling out the suit his dad got him. "I mean, it's nice..?" He holds it up to the mirror and sighs. "Let's just get this over with."

•••

Felix and his father arrive at the courthouse around 10 minutes before the hearing begins. They walk into the room, both a little nervous. Felix can feel his hands shaking as they walk to their respective area. And that's when they see her. Long brown hair. Black doe eyes. And the most pretty smile you've ever seen. It hurt Felix. He sits down and the trial begins.

•••

[Ok, so before we begin the trial, I have to say a few things. First off, I am a teenager, so I don't know shit about how trials work, or like the proper etiquette for a trial. The only shit I know is from like TV shows or smth, so please don't hate on me if I get stuff wrong, Ok? I'm no lawyer, im no judge. I don't know this shit. So I'm doing everything to the best of my knowledge. Plus I'm American so I'm going off the American justice system because I am wayyy too lazy to research the Australian justice system. Ok? Ok. Now on with the story.]

"I would like to call a witness."

"Proceed."

"I would like to call up Felix Lee, son of Jonathan and Jessica Lee." Felix stands at the mention of his name, walking towards the guy with the bible.

"Do you solemnly swear to tell the whole truth, just the truth, and nothing but the truth?" [I think that's how it goes.]

"I do."

"You may proceed." Felix nods at the judge and takes a seat at the witness stand. His father's lawyer turns to him and softens at the face of Felix. He then starts asking questions.

"Felix where were you on the night of October 13, 2012?"

"I was at my house with my back-then boyfriend James Cardinel."

"Boyfriend you say? You were only in 5th grade."

"Yes well, back then we both wanted to know what a relationship felt like. Nothing came of it though, we never got passed cheek kisses." Felix looks at his lap and smiles at the memories of his first boyfriend.

"Right. Well then, were you out to your parents."

"No."

"On the night of October 13, 2012, what were you and James doing?"

"I believe we were watching Youtube videos. I know it something on the computer."

"Ok. Were you two home alone?"

"No, my dad was with us, but he was making dinner."

"Your mom wasn't there?"

"No sir, she was on her way home from work."

"On her way home?"

"Yeah, it was like 6pm when me and James were on the computer. My mom's work would always end at 5:30 and it usually took her a half hour to 45 minutes to get home."

"Ok. What happened when she got home?"

"Sh-she uh. I remember hearing her walking into the kitchen and then a bunch of yelling from downstairs..."

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Felix quickly shuts off his computer when he hears his parents yelling downstairs.

"What do you think they're fighting about?" James asks, slightly shaken seeing as he was a guest in Felix's home.

"I don't know. Taxes maybe?"

"Maybe. Let's just get on the bed." Felix nods, and climbs onto the bed, helping his boyfriend up.

"You're shivering Jamsie, let's get under the covers."

"Ah yeah, let's do that." The two 10 year olds climb under the blankets and try their best to ignore the yelling from downstairs. They just try and lighten the mood by joking around and cuddling. Suddenly, the yelling stops. They hear a crash and a groan. And then the sounds of footsteps coming up the stairs. A knock on Felix's door alerts the boys that someone is there.

"Felix dear? It's mommy. I just want to talk."

"Ok mom, you can come in. We're on the bed." The door creaks open and Mrs. Lee smiles.

"Hi honey, hi James. I'm sorry about the yelling." She says walking to the room. Her right hand behind her back as she sits at the foot of the bed.

"It's fine. Is everything alright? We heard a crash." Felix asks as he and James sit up in bed.

"Mhm. Everything is fine, except that.." Mrs. Lee pauses as she takes a kitchen knife out from behind her back.

"M-mom?"

"M-Mrs. L-Lee?" The two boys stare at the woman in pure horror as she quickly stabs the knife into James' foot. The boy screams in agony.

"Well it turns out, you two were hiding something from me, weren't you. You know, I had to find out from Mrs. Creen, you know, Amy's mom, that you boys have been dating. You know what she said to me? She said 'My Jessica, I didn't think you'd let Felix date so young.' And I was so confused, then she told me that she had seen you two-" She pauses again to drag the knife from James' foot up to his shin. She talks louder as he screams. "-She had seen you two kissing each other on the cheek and holding hands. Now, I'm all for dating young but I am not one for a gay son. And I will not let him be dating a poor excuse of a boy." She stares into Felix's eyes as she lifts the knife from his boyfriend's leg and plunges it into his stomach. James coughs blood onto the bed. Felix grabs his hand and tries to calm him down, telling him it will be fine.

"You know what's really funny James, dear?" Mrs. Lee says, turning to the young boy. "It's that, your body's flight or fight mode kicks in when you're in a life or death situation. What really makes me laugh is the fact that, there's no point in that when I know you aren't going to survive." She lifts the knife again and stabs him in the chest. Right in the heart. James continues to cough up blood.

"JAMES!"

"SHUT IT YOU DISGUSTING ANIMAL!" Mrs. Lee slaps Felix across the face. Hard. He shouts in pain, but doesn't let go of his boyfriend.

"STOP HURTING HIM MOM!"

"Too late Felix. He's dead. His chest isn't rising anymore. He's gone. Forever." And with that, she hits Felix on the side of the head with the handle of the knife, knocking out her son.

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"How long do you think this all took Felix?"

"10- 15 minutes. It all happened so quick."

"I see." The lawyer turns to the judge. "Your honor, I am done."

"Ok, Felix you may step down." Felix nods and climbs out of the witness stand and goes to sit down. The trial proceeds on with more stories and tales from the night of October 13, 2012.

•••

"Mrs. Lee, after hearing all the witness accounts, how do you plead?" The judge asks from his seat. Mrs. Lee turns to her son with a soft look and looks him dead in the eye.

"Guilty."

"Jessica Cheonhae Lee. You have been found guilty on acount for murder of a minor and attack of hate crime. The jury rules you a sentence of life in prison without parole. Take her away. Court is dismissed."

Everyone stands and exits the room, Felix's father leading away. The young boy stays back to watch his mother be taken away in handcuffs.

Leaving Felix standing alone in the courtroom. Tears streaming down his face.

•••

The car ride home is silent, both Felix and his father not knowing what to talk about. Felix decides to just go on his phone. He reads back the texts all his friends sent him Sunday night, after he landed. He smiles as he goes to each contact, whispering to himself.

"I love you guys. Please don't forget that. I miss you and I will continue to miss you for as long as we're apart. I may never see you again. Goodbye." And with that, he blocks everyone.