I stood. Melissa’s car seat sat hunched behind the witness stand. Her soul filled the courtroom.This was her moment. I was only there because she was absent. I’m never really nervous. I’m amped up and ready for battle, but never nervous. I held the PowerPoint remote in my right hand. I took a deep but silent breath. I looked down. I took seven steps to the front of the jury box in the center of the courtroom. I glanced at the jury. Silence filled the courtroom. I pushed the silence an extra three seconds. By design, tension rose. I looked at the family in the audience.

I stood. Melissa’s car seat sat hunched behind the witness stand. Her soul filled the courtroom.This was her moment. I was only there because she was absent. I’m never really nervous. I’m amped up and ready for battle, but never nervous. I held the PowerPoint remote in my right hand. I took a deep but silent breath. I looked down. I took seven steps to the front of the jury box in the center of the courtroom. I glanced at the jury. Silence filled the courtroom. I pushed the silence an extra three seconds. By design, tension rose. I looked at the family in the audience.