— "Wake up, please, Andrew!" The painful humming turned into shouts: "You must wake up!"
An absurd scene appeared before his eyes: a large, gloomy hall, in the middle of which is a massive, authoritarian table. At the table sat an older man with a grim expression. On the table lay a pile of important, written papers, into which the man kept staring intently.
Andrew was surrounded by rows of seats, all filled with serious people in tuxedos and official uniforms – as if a ceremonial speech in a church was taking place.
Everyone was staring at the figure in the middle of the hall, who shifted nervously from foot to foot, answering uneasily to questions that came from somewhere in the space:
"I always thought he was kind of strange. He often came late to work and had that... always tired look, as if he hadn't slept all night," came a voice that was instantly annoying.
"When he first started here — if he even did 'start,'" she remarked sarcastically, "...I wasn't here yet, so I never had the chance to see him. But in the five years I've worked here, he has always made me suspicious."
Not once did he catch her eyes. She wasn't looking at him, he couldn't understand who she was actually talking about.
— "What surprises me the most… and actually even scares me a little," the voice paused for a moment, "is that I have never seen him leave home."
A vague image began to form in Andrew's mind. Suddenly, he noticed a woman beside him. The very one he remembered from the previous night.
— "What's happening?" he asked urgently, staring at her intently.
The woman hesitated for a long time. At last she leaned her face close and whispered:
— "Andrew… I know it's hard for you to understand right now…" Andrew's expression darkened, his forehead wrinkled in a dissatisfied frown. "But don't worry," she continued softly. "I will help you. That's exactly why I'm here."
Andrew widened his eyes in distrust and confusion.
— "Wait… I don't understand anything right now…"
As soon as the woman opened her mouth to start explaining something, he hurriedly continued:
— "Where are we?"
He looked around again, as if checking that nothing had disappeared.
"Who are these people? Who are you?! And why am I here?" His voice grew more and more impatient, fast and urgent. He spoke confusedly, almost babbling, without noticing that the judge was watching him with growing contempt. The judge quietly cleared his throat — a warning that Andrew was crossing a certain line.
— "Sorry…," Andrew muttered softly.
— "I understand your confusion and anger,"
the woman sitting next to him lowered her voice noticeably, "but you must listen to me, please… really," she whispered, trying to persuade him.
Andrew remained silent, showing his agreement.
The woman exhaled quietly, needing to make space in her lungs for another rush of words.
— "My name is Lyle…," she paused for a moment. Then she looked back at the man in front of her: "I am your lawyer." Andrew looked at her in disbelief, surprise and confusion reflected in his eyes.
"Yes… you are on trial for unauthorized business," Lyle exhaled, as if feeling Andrew's anger tighten in his throat while he stared at her sharply.
— "What are you talking about?!" he almost shouted. But he quickly regained control and softened his voice:
"What do you mean? Are you saying I broke the law?"
— "Yes… well no. I mean, I don't think… but you are definitely accused of something."
Andrew threw a glance at the gloomy judge, then frowned.
— "It's not clear why or how, but you would have to win that trial."
— "Sorry, but I'm really not taking part in this!" His previously calm tone exploded into a roar, like a balloon suddenly bursting.
— "Stop, please… you can't…," she tried to calm him, but before she could finish, he poured out more complaints.
— "Really. Enough!!!" The man stood up in the middle of the court session. "We're done, people!!!"
Lyle subtly nudged his knee and tugged at the hem of his shirt, signaling his unacceptable behavior. The woman blushed with embarrassment, as both of them had suddenly become the center of everyone's attention in the hall.
— "I'm not joking, I'm sorry!!! It wasn't funny, but thank you for the performance!!!" Andrew continued, ironically mocking the ongoing trial.
— "Enough, Andrew!" Lyle whispered to him, but he didn't hear her at all.
Not long after, two men in official police uniforms came up to them. Without a single word or warning, they grabbed Andrew by the shoulders and led him out of the courtroom.
A moment later, Lyle also appeared in the hallway.
— "The trial is postponed indefinitely," she said without raising her eyes, where injustice was hidden. Andrew noticed her faded expression and cheeks, from which the bright blush had drained away.
— "Wait!" he stopped her just as she was about to leave. "Um…" when she turned, all his words stuck in his throat. "I don't know if it changes anything… but I'd like to apologize."
At those words, Lyle raised her eyebrows.
— "I want to apologize for ruining all this. Even though I don't really know what… I shouldn't have acted like that."
Lyle's expression suddenly changed.
— "Andrew, if you cannot prove your innocence, you will not wake up," her words mixed honesty with anger, yet her tone sent a trembling chill across his skin. "Prepare yourself physically… and mentally…" she paused for a moment, "…for the next trial."
After this warning she cast one last look at the man standing before her, then unwillingly turned toward the exit. Andrew, stunned, stood for a long time surrounded by the dark, muted walls.