Love Prevails

I went to court today.  

Not for me, but my son. 

He is a 21 year old man who got cold-cocked in a college bar about a month ago. I received a 2:00AM call from the emergency room that my son had been taken there by ambulance and that he had asked them to call me.  Fuck. 

He had five facial fractures and lots of swelling.  With surgery they inserted two titanium plates to put his jaw back together; the rest are healing on their own.  He is coming through this with flying colors and no other known issues - vision, hearing, neck, spine, bruising, nose ... all perfect!

From the first moments in the ER, Jacob indicated that he didn't want this choice to affect the future of the kid who did this to him.  He still stands by this belief with compassion and inner strength.

Lookin' good!

Today as I sat in the courtroom for the preliminary hearing on behalf of my son, I took at the people around me; the staff, the attorneys, the onlookers and the prisoners; the boy that did this is still in jail due to the type of offense.   Some walked tall, some with heads down, some smiled and waved at family and friends who sat in court to just get a glimpse at their loved one.  

One row up and to my right was a blond woman about my age.  I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but after about 45 minutes she was joined by two young men.  Oh my.  This must be his mom.  My heart sunk and my eyes swelled up as I thought of what she must be going through.   I asked God to give me strength as I sat there alone, unknowing what would come of this day.

Her son was the last one called before the judge.  We were the only ones left in the courtroom seats.  The PD spoke on his behalf; he has no history of fights or prior arrests; was a full time college student working part time in a bagel shop.  The DA spoke on my son's behalf, sharing the details of the "fight" then expressing Jacob's willingness to reduce the bond and not collect any punitive damages.  The kid's bond was reduced from $50,000 to $10,000 and another court date was set.

I spent a few minutes in a conversation with the DA and victim's assistance representative who could not believe that Jacob was being so compassionate.  That is just who he is - I'm amazed, too.  I then walked down the stairs toward the exit doors.

Across the room, in a chair by the glassed-in cashier desks, was the kid's mom by  herself with piles of cash that she counted and recounted as her hands shook.  I'm sure she just wanted him home with her.   I stood there watching her for a minute then my heart got the best of me.  I walked over to her and sat down.  I looked her right in the eyes told her who I was.  She cried and hugged me.  We hugged each other.

That was one of the most profound moments of my life thus far.  Two single mothers comforting owe another in the most unexpected circumstances.

Maybe I was there for me.