Dual Identity

"You are sentenced to three years in prison. No parole," The judges voice boomed out to the half full court room.

The Facebook comment was still projected onto the wall. The ugly and harsh words seemed to be magnified by the stares of the people and a crying woman behind him. The handcuffed student slowly looked down. He couldn't make eye contact with the judge that had just ruined his life. No. It wasn't the judges fault. It was mine. He suddenly became self conscious of his thoughts, as though the entire room could hear the voice inside his head.

He knew he shouldn't have done. He had wanted to be cool online. It had all started as just a bit of fun. Just a little messing around in some of his comments on statuses. He had wanted to fit in with the cool crowd, of course.

His best friend had made a comment to him, in person, about his sudden change online. He remembered the comment vividly, wishing he had listened to it in the first place.

"You know, you really aren't the same anymore," His friend had said. "You better watch what you say, man. It's going to come back and bite you."

He had shrugged off the conversation. He though his friend was overreacting a bit. No one could get hurt when they were all hiding behind computer screens. And besides, it had all been just a little fun.

But things changed rather quickly. James Castle was his name. He jumped out of a bathroom window in the top floor of the school. Suicide.

It was all because of me. There were his thoughts again. He jumped because of me. I pushed him to do it with that stupid comment of mine.

He was escorted away by the bailiff. He looked at his parents in the back of the room. They were in shock. His mother waved at him, almost as though she was reaching out to grab him. He waved back.

He looked at the comment still projected on the wall.

"You might as well just end your life now. No need to put us through the misery of seeing your face everyday."

The janitor turned off the projector. He began sweeping the floor.