Exhausted Emma

The secretary sighed, realizing the delicate situation. "Miss Leyla didn't provide specific reasons, but it seems there was a change of heart on her part. She informed us just this morning."

Emma nodded slowly, still processing the sudden turn of events.

She thanked the secretary and left the courtroom, feeling a mixture of emotions.

As Emma walked away from the empty courtroom, she unexpectedly crossed paths with a priest known for his fervent beliefs in keeping families together. With a serious expression, the priest approached her, holding a bottle of holy water in his hand.

"Ah, Miss Emma White," the priest began with conviction. "I heard you were handling another divorce case. Divorce is the devil's work, but I am always ready to help cleanse the souls trapped in the grasp of these dark forces."

Emma raised an eyebrow, taking a deep breath. She had dealt with this priest before, well aware of his unwavering commitment to keeping families united.

The priest started reciting prayers to exorcise the demons, uttering them with unwavering confidence. Then, without warning, he suddenly doused her with holy water.

"Now you're cleansed from the demons of divorce, Miss White," the priest declared proudly. "With the blessings of God, I have once again succeeded. The couple will mend their relationship."

Emma found herself drenched and taken aback by the priest's sudden actions. She felt as if all her efforts were in vain. The subsequent conversation was little more than the priest praising himself and denouncing divorce as the work of the devil.

In her heart, Emma could only reflect, "Cases like these always waste time and energy."

"Miss Emma White!"

Emma's name was called from behind.

She turned and found Leyla, the woman who had filed a lawsuit, rushing toward her. Leyla's face, marked with visible scars and a look of guilt, told a story of hardship and struggle.

Her eyes were shadowed, reflecting the weight of her past, as she approached Emma with a sense of urgency.

"Miss White, I apologize for withdrawing the lawsuit abruptly. I will pay you as agreed. I'm also sorry for taking up your time, so can we—"

"No, forget it. I don't want to discuss it any further," Emma replied, clearly irritated. She had worked hard to prepare everything, and a simple apology was not enough for her.

"You don't need to pay anything." Emma walked a few steps and then turned to Leyla. "If your husband ever lays a hand on you again, which is highly likely to happen, don't come back to me. You know, in this town, I'm the only one who takes cases like yours. You've missed your chance to escape your dark life, and you've wasted it! So enjoy your marriage!"

Leyla's face crumbled with a mixture of fear and guilt as Emma's words washed over her. Her eyes were cast down in shame, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the fabric of her shabby dress.

She knew Emma was right; this might have been her only opportunity to break free from the cycle of abuse, and she had let it slip away.

Emma couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration and compassion for the young woman standing before her.

As a lawyer, she had seen far too many cases like Leyla's, and it weighed on her heavily. The pain and suffering of these women who were trapped in abusive relationships were a constant reminder of the injustices that existed in society.

But Emma also knew that she couldn't save everyone, no matter how much she wanted to. Her law firm was struggling, and she could barely keep up with the mounting bills. She had her own battles to fight.

Leyla nodded weakly, a tear escaping her eye. "I... I understand," she whispered, her voice quivering.

Emma walked away with determined steps, her fingers tightly gripping the folder in her hand. She had chosen a profession that demanded strength and resilience, but sometimes, the weight of it all was too much to bear.

"Miss, please wait! Miss White!" The woman made one last attempt to call her back. "Are you sure you don't want me to at least pay you fifty percent?"

"It's free. You don't need to pay, so please, I need to rest." Emma shouted back in exasperation.

Leyla fell silent instantly, left standing there, her eyes locked on the departing figure of the attorney. Emma's words hung in the air, a poignant reminder of the battles that raged within her as she fought for justice in a world that so often seemed unjust.

Emma released her tied-up hair and tossed the hairband into the trash can. With purposeful, heavy steps, she strode out of the courtroom.

She was furious. It felt as if all her hard work had been in vain. She had earnestly handled Leyla's case, a woman who had been brutally beaten by her husband, and it seemed like no one took it seriously.

She didn't know anymore. She was exhausted beyond measure.

***

Emma let out a frustrated sigh as she walked down the echoing hallways of the courthouse.

Her heels clicked rhythmically against the marble floor, a metronome to her growing irritation.

It was the weight of the world on her shoulders, or at least it felt that way.

The dimly lit corridors seemed to close in on her, and she couldn't help but think about her journey as a lawyer.

She had come so far from the small-town girl with big dreams, working tirelessly to scrape together enough money to open her own law office in the bustling city.

But now, after years of hard work and countless sleepless nights, she couldn't escape the feeling that her efforts were going to waste.

The justice system had failed Leyla, and as a dedicated advocate, it pained her to see justice remain out of reach for those who needed it most.

Every case she took was a piece of her heart and soul she poured into it, and sometimes, it felt like the world was just laughing at her dedication.

The pang of frustration was sharper with each step, and she wanted to scream out loud, but she knew that wouldn't solve anything.