"I remember the last time I saw him." I strained, my throat tight. I wanted relief, but a strong sense of judgment lingered in my mind.

  As if they were watching...

  My blood pumped with adrenaline, ready to explode if I didn’t take a moment to breathe.

  "It was a Sunday morning..." I spoke once more, my words broken.

  The sound of an arrogant clock ticked behind me, overtaking my important words. Tick, tick, tick. It mocked. Judging me.

  My lawyer, Kim Soo, took a breath. A grunt escaped his clenched teeth as he stared at me—flames in his eyes. Frustration that could bite.

  Yes, I realized my wrong.

  I had ruined his perfectly planned script.

  The audience behind the screen tempted to call out lie, but they couldn’t.

  Their hands subconsciously lifted in a silent ‘truth.’ Causing a man in the side room to exhale in annoyance.

  It was clear—they all wanted me to admit that lie. The lie that everybody had spread beyond their content.

  They said my brother disappeared Wednesday night. But my truth—the real truth—said it was Sunday dawn.

  None of them would believe it.

  For a moment, I held my breath, masking guilt I didn’t even feel, and forced out the aggravating words. "Sorry..."

  "Stop the test!" Kim Soo yelled, pushing the chair away from him as he leaned forward against the old stone table, quickly grabbing me by the collar.

  "Mr. Do Yun, you are giving a statement, not writing a petty story. Haven’t we already established the last time you saw Jae Joon was Wednesday evening?"

  "The lie detector doesn’t lie!" I corrected. "It’s not a story, it’s the truth!"

  "No... you speak lies. Check the detector. It’s clearly broken!" Kim Soo spat out the order; sudden silhouettes of people in the side room shuffled frantically, as if herded by an invisible hand.

  And then, out of the corner of my eye, everyone vanished from that once-crowded room in an instant.

  For a moment, I thought I had a chance to escape my lawyer’s grasp—but instead, a shot of Kim Soo’s saliva hit my blouse.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  I froze, eyes widening, forcing myself to keep my composure. A light laugh slipped from my lips.

  "Don’t laugh," he demanded, pulling me closer by the thin fabric of my collar.

  "There is clear evidence that proves against your delusion," Kim Soo scoffed. "So much damn evidence to prove he went missing that Wednesday, not Sunday, as you propose. Do you not trust your lawyer? Must you see the recording for the ninth time today?"

  I held in a scoff and nodded slightly.

  I couldn’t prove I was telling the truth, no matter how hard I tried. My frustration boiled, my left eye twitching over my calm exterior.

  Yes, I hated him...

  The way he looked so cocky, acting like a detective in the case—he wasn’t. His position was much lower. He knew no facts beyond my statements. That was how degraded he was.

  The way he smiled, all snobbery, when in fact I was there that day. I had only told him. Entrusted him. And what? He gets paid just to show off his political skills?

  Trusting cameras, not my words?

  Cameras were filthy lies. How he depended on them rather than me annoyed me. But what could I do? I was a mere slave to a master at this rate.

  I was nothing in his world. Just a lowly animal begging for help. That was all I was.

  My fist clenched, and I let out a small, broken smile. "My apologies," I forced myself to say. "You must be right. You are my lawyer after all?"

  He grinned in agreement, letting go of his tight grasp. "Good. Now say it with me... my brother Lee Jae Joon died Wednesday evening."

  My eyes widened at his faded dominance, a snarky smile forming as I took my opportunity to pull him back to me.

  Closer...

  "My brother Lee Jae Joon went missing Sunday morning."

  Last I remembered was the echo of sirens ringing in my head. It was a blur. I couldn’t recall a thing. Couldn’t gather my surroundings. I closed my eyes—a hunt to obtain the memories of what used to be.

  ———————————————————

  "Hyun Do Yun..." The sudden sound of my psychologist’s voice broke the silence. Her soft voice was stern. Almost angered.

  "Open your eyes..." she demanded. I obeyed, lips quivering as I made eye contact.

  "The police report said you did that to him? Is that true?"

  I froze. I forgot... I couldn’t remember... I couldn’t remember anything?

  "Do what?" I asked, dread curling in my stomach at the thought of the unexpected.

  "Do Yun, did you—or did you not—put Kim Soo into that hospital bed this afternoon?" Her voice shook.

  Freezing, I looked away in terror. Did I nearly kill somebody? Did I kill my lawyer? Why can’t I remember?

  My eyes watered, a lump forming in my throat as I shook my head frantically.

  "No, I didn’t! I swear! I swear I’m not a murderer!"

  "He didn’t die. He still breathes. So be honest—did you do it?" She looked me dead in the eyes, hunting for a sign of innocence. Begging for a miracle.

  "I told you I didn’t..." I held back a sudden scoff. A sharp glare returned her look. "Why does nobody believe me?" My voice was no longer weak—it was rage-filled.

  I didn’t understand where the anger had formed. Maybe after the long day of allegations. Maybe after being called a liar twice as many times.

  I hated when I couldn’t control myself.

  I wasn’t the same anymore. Nothing about me was the same; I couldn’t quite understand why.

  "I’m just saying, you were talking about your brother’s death, weren’t you? The day of the accident?"

  "The last day I saw him," I corrected.

  "You said Wednesday, didn’t you?" I suddenly pushed my chair back in annoyance. A loud crash hit the wall, and the plastic chair bounced back, collapsing to the carpeted floor with a thud.

  "Why does nobody believe me? It was Sunday dawn. That’s the last time I saw him!"

  "He was found dead that morning..."

  "He wasn’t! I made him breakfast. He ate. We laughed. He wasn’t gone yet!" I yelled, leaning forward. "Are you on their side? The monsters who twisted my words? I thought you were meant to help me!"

  "I am helping you, but..."

  "Who says you are helping me? You’re just doubting me! Everybody doubts me. Am I not human? Am I not normal? Why does no one treat me humanly?" I yelled, rushing to the door. She stopped me, her arm urging me back.

  "Do Yun. Please calm down. I’m sorry. Let’s just talk, hm? Please?"

  "Let go of me!" I exclaimed, shoving her away.

  "I don’t need anybody. Nobody needs me!" I slammed the door behind me. The frame of her shadow swayed at the door before it collapsed to its knees.

  I stood for a moment, looking back. The figure remained crouched on the floor. Didn’t get up yet. I couldn’t care less. She didn’t mean anything to me.

  After all, I was just a client helping fund her paycheck. Why would she care?

  Just like nobody cared. As always. I was seen as part of the dead, meant less than their graves.

  I was forgotten and ignored, just like their spirits.

  A shadow, unseen.

  Nobody helped me. Even when I tried. Tried to give the help.

  I presented my statement. They called it lies.

  They never believed me.

  They thought I was a freak.

  Called me insane...

  Yes. Maybe I was broken. But broken things still bleed.

  I just wanted to tell my brother’s story. Help him rest in peace. Prove it wasn’t the accident everyone claimed.

  Yet, their vicious tongues cut through me before I could dodge their teeth.

  I wasn’t free. I never was.

  Because at the end of the day...

  I was nothing without my brothers.