This is a fictional story based around several aspects of my personal story. Asked to pick five things that would typify me if I were a character in a novel, I chose the following:
- Music by Prince
- Water – I always carry it with me
- My love of spending time on my own
- Fear of being imprisoned
- The standing joke I have with myself, that I spend 10 minutes every morning putting on make-up so that I look like I’m not wearing any make-up.
The story below was a 10-minute write, based on the above, put into a fictional setting.
Truth
The courtroom fell silent, twelve pairs of eyes on my every move. I could feel them boring into my brain, wondering if I was lying, whether I really did it.
I didn’t do it, just so you know.
Prince’s Kiss was going round in my head and I so wished it wasn’t that track—my least favourite of all.
Gavel in hand, the magistrate began summing up. My throat was a gritty desert but I didn’t dare clear it. Where was my ever-present bottle of water when I need it? Tears began to fall, my perfectly made-up face washed away to once again reveal plain-Jane.
“Guilty”, the magistrate announced.
Guilty? Yes, I longed to be alone, but not like this.
I swear I didn’t do it, I swear.