Character Witness

We’re in the courtroom

to hear the jury’s verdict

after only a few hours of

deliberation

and Ms. Rinaldi, my art teacher

was a character witness

It was the first time

she saw me

in a suit and tie

like the one I was supposed to wear

to the art opening at the museum

Or the one I was supposed to wear

to my first solo show in the school’s gym

The suit I was supposed to wear

to prom, to my cousin’s graduation

to mosque with Umi

is the suit I wear to my first trial

image

It’s as if this event in my life

was something that was

supposed to happen all along