The Incident

I've always wondered how the guilty could take their place on the stands and remain expressionless, some even smiling when judgement has been passed on them and their sentence recited. 

An incident the other day sparked some revelations. 

The the facts and evidence were all in place and yet the accused was said to have bore an expression of calmness and nonchalance, almost acting as if he was an observer, rather than a partaker of the crime. It seemed to me almost like an act of defiance and denial towards the situation, a refusal to be guilty.

And then it struck me that it was the exact opposite, for only the truly guilty could afford to do so. For only they would understand that whatever protests and reasonings they could come up with were powerless against the absolute truth in their hearts. For all the wrongdoings done, they were the ultimate witnesses of the crimescenes and to deny any of it would be akin to wrestling with oneself.

And so only the truly guilty can afford to take to the stands, their faces expressionless, some even smiling as their sentences are read out. To accept that what's done has been done, throwing away their paddles and letting the flowing river of justice take its course.