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
It’s as if this event in my life
was something that was
supposed to happen all along