The courtroom was packed. Journalists filled the front rows. Cameras were aimed at a woman in handcuffs who had been accused of a major robbery. The judge had already raised his gavel to announce the verdict.
At that moment, the door burst open.
A thin ten-year-old boy walked in wearing an old jacket and worn-out shoes. In his hands, he carried a battered folder.
“Excuse me… I’m looking for my mother’s case…”
People began to laugh.
The lawyer rolled his eyes.
The judge struck the gavel in annoyance.
“Remove the child.”
Security moved toward him.
With trembling hands, the boy opened the folder and pulled out an old photograph.
“She told me to show this only to you…”
The judge glanced at it…
And suddenly turned pale.
He slowly rose from his seat.
The entire courtroom froze.
In the photograph was a young woman holding a baby in her arms. Standing beside her was the judge himself — years younger, when he was still a prosecutor.
The woman in the photo was the boy’s mother. Long ago, he had sent her to prison after believing forged evidence.
The judge removed his glasses.
“Where is she now?..”
The boy lowered his eyes.
“She died a week ago. Before she passed away, she told me to find you.”
Silence filled the courtroom.
For the first time in many years, the judge could not speak.
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The judge stepped down from his bench and walked toward the boy.
“What is your name?”
“Ilya.”
The boy handed him a letter.
The judge opened the envelope. Inside were only a few lines:
“I do not ask for forgiveness. I ask for truth for my son.”
The judge began to tremble.
He turned to the courtroom.
“The case from twenty years ago must be reopened immediately. Launch an investigation against those who fabricated the evidence.”
The journalists jumped to their feet.
The woman in handcuffs burst into tears — she had also been imprisoned because of the same people.
The judge removed his robe.
“Today, I have no right to judge anyone.”
He dropped to his knees before the boy.
“Forgive me.”
