Court is Now in Session_Case No 002

Case No. 002

The People v. "Seen 11:48 PM"

Court Clerk:

"All rise!"

"This Honourable Court is now in session."

"The Honourable Justice Common Sense presiding." 

Judge:

"Be seated."

"Call the next matter."

Court Clerk:

"Case No. 002."

The People versus 'Seen 11:48 PM'.

Charge: Wilfully provoking overthinking, encouraging unnecessary investigations and conspiring to manufacture sleeplessness.

Judge:

"Appearances?"

Prosecutor:

"Ready for the People, My Lord."

Counsel:

"Ready for the Defence, My Lord."

"My client maintains that it merely acknowledged receipt."

Judge:

"Bring in the accused."

Court Clerk:

"The accused..."

"Seen 11:48 PM."

A pair of blue ticks quietly appears on the courtroom projector.

A collective gasp fills the gallery.

Someone at the back whispers,

"E don happen."

Judge:

"Order."

"The Court reminds everyone that blue ticks are innocent until proven guilty."

"Proceed."

Prosecutor:

"My Lord, the People seek leave to tender Exhibit A."

The Court Clerk approaches the Bench carrying a phone inside a transparent evidence bag.

"My Lord..."

"Exhibit A."

"A carefully worded message."

"Proper punctuation."

"No grammatical errors."

"Sent at 11:43 PM."

Judge:

"Admitted."

"Proceed."

Prosecutor:

"My Lord, we now tender Exhibit B."

The Clerk taps the screen.

The courtroom projector illuminates.

Seen 11:48 PM.

Nothing more.

No reply.

No emoji.

No '😂'.

No '👍'.

Not even 'Noted.'

The silence in the courtroom becomes evidence.

Counsel:

"My Lord, the Defence objects."

"The prosecution continues to confuse silence with intention."

Judge:

"Objection reserved."

"The Court wishes to hear from the witnesses."

Prosecutor:

"The People call Anxiety."

Anxiety walks into the witness box carrying three imaginary conversations and six possible explanations.

Court Clerk:

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?"

Anxiety:

"I'll tell... what I think happened."

Prosecutor:

"What happened immediately after the accused appeared?"

Anxiety:

"I informed the Brain that something was terribly wrong."

Prosecutor:

"On what basis?"

Anxiety:

"There was... a delay."

Prosecutor:

"How long?"

Anxiety:

"Approximately..."

"...eleven minutes."

A murmur ripples through the courtroom.

Counsel:

"Did you consider that the recipient may have fallen asleep?"

Anxiety:

"No."

"Become busy?"

"No."

"Received a phone call?"

"No."

"Simply intended to reply later?"

"I did not investigate those possibilities."

"What did you investigate?"

"I assumed."

The gallery grows unusually quiet.

Prosecutor:

"The People call Hope."

Hope enters carrying a charging cable.

Prosecutor:

"What was your reaction?"

Hope:

"I suggested waiting till morning."

Prosecutor:

"And what happened?"

Hope:

"Nobody listened."

Soft laughter echoes across the courtroom.

Judge:

"The Court calls the Brain."

The Brain adjusts its tie before entering the witness box.

Judge:

"Were you present throughout?"

Brain:

"Physically, yes."

"Operationally..."

"...Anxiety seized temporary control."

The stenographer pauses to nod.

The Judge removes his glasses.

He studies Exhibit B for several moments.

Then quietly asks,

"Has anyone produced evidence that the recipient intended harm?"

Silence.

"Has anyone proved that blue ticks constitute rejection?"

Silence.

"Has anyone established that a delayed reply is equivalent to a negative reply?"

Even deeper silence.

The Judge reaches for his gavel.

Judgment

Having carefully examined Exhibits A and B, together with the testimony of Anxiety, Hope and the Brain, this Court finds insufficient evidence to convict 'Seen 11:48 PM'.

The accused merely confirms that a message was seen.

It does not certify the recipient's mood, intentions, availability or affection.

This Court therefore dismisses all charges against the blue ticks.

However...

The Court finds Assumption guilty of manufacturing conclusions without evidence.

Sentence is hereby imposed.

Assumption shall perform two hundred hours of community service under the supervision of Patience.

The Court further advises all citizens that a timestamp is a record of an event, not a revelation of the heart.

The Principle of the Court

“A timestamp is a record of an event, not a revelation of the heart.”

Court is adjourned.

Bang.

Next Week Before This Honourable Court...

Case No. 003
The People v. "Typing..."

If "Seen 11:48 PM" stood accused of cold silence, "Typing..." faces a far more serious allegation.

The prosecution intends to prove that the accused deliberately raises hope, promises resolution without uttering a single word, and then vanishes without explanation, leaving behind nothing but three disappearing dots and a courtroom full of unanswered questions.

Will the Defence argue that every unfinished thought deserves the benefit of the doubt?

Or will the Court finally declare "Typing..." guilty of psychological torment?

Proceedings continue next week.