the JUdge

Carlos is one of those judges whose fame speaks for itself, of those who could have retired years ago, but whose conviction to contribute is greater than their pain, which is why every day he arrives punctually at his desk in Paloquemao. He is a person of habits, the same type that always eats breakfast at the same bakery stall, at the same time and, of course, the same food. So, every morning before 7, his coffee with milk is already waiting for him at the stall near the door.

Despite the fact that this day began like any other, when Carlos went out into the street he perceived a different aroma, a perfume of change, something that made him smile. Our judge was thinking about all this when suddenly, behind his back, they yelled at him to stop. The sound was so loud that he stopped on the spot, he even had to give himself some time to catch his breath, as he almost had a heart attack.

But despite everything, thank goodness they yelled at him, because he was about to cross under a ladder, an act quite feared in countries like Colombia, since the bad luck that this entails is well famous, unless he had kept his fingers crossed until seeing a dog, but who knows, it is better not to risk it. When he finally turned around to find out who his hero had been, he only saw José, the same one who served him coffee in the morning. José's grief was so great that he could barely keep his gaze on him, as he moved as if he wanted to hide behind the sign on the door, the one that said "residential wanted."

In José eyes you could tell that his repentance was so big that he couldn't even talk. As he could, he started begged him to forgive him, telling him that of course he knew that the stairs weren't to be left alone, and much less on a street as busy as this one. Arguing that, of course, he was considerate of the fate of others, but that it had only been a matter of seconds, nothing more, he was urinating himself. To which the judge could only laugh, because although it is true that he could have been the cause of an accident, what he ended up being was the hero, so there was nothing to worry about. He wished him the best of luck, telling him that he heartily hoped that he had enjoyed his well-deserved piss.

This morning scare gave him energy for the whole day, and he came to the office whistling, eager to work. He wanted life to surprise him and so he did. In fact, it has always had, just that this time he was mature enough to realize it. It all happened when he observed a case lying on his desk that caught his attention immediately, the capture of a young man for selling drugs. This is one of those recurring cases throughout his career, in which an addict is observed struggling against the adversities of life. Where he, guided by his addiction, begins to sell drugs. Thus, becoming one more link in the criminal chain, which is clandestinely known as micro-trafficking.

Being the same case as always, without sufficient evidence to implicate a high command within the criminal organization involved. Therefore, the state ends up filling the prisons with laborers, who even appreciate being incarcerated, since they see it more as a break, by assuring them food and lodging for a few months, well, if they don't get kill during their “vacations”. And for those who wonder why not use them as witnesses, this is not possible, because in jail snitches are crushed. Turning these prisoners into entities that only sleep, eat and shit.

It was as if the judge felt a call to action, where he promised to reject the usual "solutions" and aspire to more, to get out of the ineffective routine and, for the first time, make practical decisions that would prevent the person becomes one more figure within a lost system, by providing real support that promotes the benefit of both parties. All because, according to the laws, the young man should be sent to jail, since the mere possession of drugs is already a sufficient excuse, but with what sense? how unproductive it would be to expose this young man to an environment where rape and murder are a commonplace.

It seems that he has decided to take the young man as a personal project. Well, just by seeing the fear that his eyes reflect in his photo, it's impossible for him not to want to help him. But there is something that stops him, the usual question, how? So, he decides not to worry about the details and rather to give himself what he most needs at this moment, time to think, so he decides to cancel all his meetings before the pre-trial of the accused. Knowing that he does not want to provide any kind of incomplete help, the kind that people offer just to feel good about themselves.

Knowing this, he walks discreetly towards the only place where he can truly concentrate, on that throne that has been his lair since he was a child, and that now as an adult, has accompanied him in the most difficult solutions, the essential bathroom. Being there he finally feels complete, as this is his true stage, his element. In it he begins to revalidate all the possible answers to his question, in which he considers from hosting the young man in his house to sending him to one of those famous rehabilitation centers. Solutions that he quickly discards, the first due to his complete ignorance for the care of an addict and the second, when remembering the dubious efficiency of these institutions, in which only one thing is certain, the inexhaustible debt with which the family of the addict ends up.

It is that he is at a crossroads, needing something simple but effective. Well, effective is a very big word, much more for cases like this, because as they always say, no one can be cured of addiction, you just learn to live with it. Therefore, after hours of validation, he unfortunately does not get an answer, it is beyond his ability to materialize some kind of solution. So, without having done either one or the other, he puts his pants back on and heads towards the young man's trial.

Upon arrival, he finds himself in a small room, plagued by those juries that exude antiquity. The trial begins like any other, with the formal phrases of a lifetime. Where it is known that without even presenting the case the jury already has the decision made, the same as always. Therefore, seconds before hearing the sentence, the judge asks them for a moment, explaining that, although it is true that there are plenty of reasons to send the young man to jail, he asks them to have an open mind, asking them if they really think that the correct decision is the usual one, by reminding them how much those two concepts get confused.

A moment of bitterness was perceived, it was noticeable how much they reproached the judge for having broken that aurora of daily life with which they worked in the jury. Therefore, after a few uncomfortable silences, the voice of a young woman who dared to break the authority of the gray hair was heard in the distance, by accepting without any remorse how ineffective it would be to send the young man to jail. It was when the judge, taking advantage of the moment, decided to thank the young woman for her sincerity and give the young man probation, but not before clarifying that there would be some commitments that the young man should fulfilled to the letter.

The atmosphere felt heavy, it was noticeable that the expectations were high for listening to those spectacular commitments with which he aspired to unseat a tradition of more than fifty years old. The judge began to feel the tension, he knew that he could not retract, knowing that he was risking his valuable legacy. At the same time he felt energetic, years ago he had not felt that panic, that curiosity to know what would happen, to know how he would be able to get out of the situation in which he found himself.

Therefore, finding himself in that sea of uncertainty, he felt as if luck was on his side again, the same luck that hours before had saved him from crossing under the stairs, as a great idea had occurred to him. He asked those present for a little peace of mind, assuring them that they did not have to worry, reminding them that to win it was always necessary to risk a little.

The jury remained silent, waiting for the judge's mysterious solution. He began with a small but effective phrase, in which he assured them that simple ideas are the ones that last; based on that principle, it had occurred to him to offer the young man a job. What would allow him to be an active part of society, the same one that had rejected him for years.

More than one even laughed. Some even told him, in the politest way possible, that he was not inventing the wheel, as he was proposing a strategy with incongruous results, so they rather asked him: why be disappointed? To which the judge responds, knowing in advance that they were going to tell him something like that, that they please believe his words, because despite facing a challenge of enormous dimensions, he had the capabilities to overcome it. He remind them that, in any case, nothing would be lost. Or is it that they forgot that cases like this were dealt with every day, in which those prosecuted even became known in the court, wasn't this reason enough to try?

Heated discussions are heard between those present, there was a feeling of discontent in the room. To which the judge answers with certainty, that they don't have to worry, that the job he would happily get it for him. He even assured them that, under his own responsibility, he took the case, to which cheers of joy were heard, surely from the young man's relatives who were listening from the background.

Moments after the noise caused by the news ended, the judge observed that one of the hands was still raised. He looked at it with special care, as it belonged to a lady located at one end of the room. She had remained silent throughout the entire session, and she just stared at him. Seeing the woman's desire to talk, the judge gave her the word. He could tell how the woman enjoyed the attention of the room, so she slowly asked her blunt question: and if we can know, where is the young man going to work?

And without giving the judge time to answer, the lady went ahead of him saying: because it seems that the young man is winning. It's just that it makes me angry, thinking about the number of young people who beg for a job every day. To which the judge replies that he shouldn't be bitter, because the young man will start working as a home worker, precisely in the bakery on the corner.

Saying this, the judge feels that the storm has finally passed, as it seems that the room is giving him a second chance. An impulse that the judge takes advantage of to notify those present that the session has ended, as he needs to speak with the young man privately. Having said this, the judge is taken to a room where the young man is waiting for him. He receives him with a hostile look, it shows that he is suffering from an episode of anxiety. To which the judge tries to calm him down, to make him understand that he comes in peace, while he reminds him that, of all the people who have tried to "help" him, he is the only one with the true intention of doing so.

After a few moments the young man begins to let go, he begins to gain confidence. So the judge takes the opportunity to meet him and ask him about his life. After a few minutes, the judge begins to feel how the young man's smell begins to permeate the walls of the courtroom, where a mixture of shit, sweat and blood have given him that humor that in society we know as hopelessness.

When the young man finishes speaking, the judge asks him a simple question: does he want to go to jail? Hearing it, the young man's face changes completely, he authoritatively answers no, not even a fool, because he knows the uncertain future that would await him, in which he would risk his life every day. And in turn he adds to forgive him, that he has had few opportunities in life, that in this world he has only been a victim.

As he says it, the judge can't help but think about the number of times the young man has said the same thing to himself. He, well, he knows that, without actions, words are devalued. Therefore, halfway through the young man's speech, the judge asks him to be quiet, telling him that it is not necessary for him to drown in a glass of water. As he doesn't need to convince him of something he already knows, that to change a person you need first to trust them.

Proposing to him that, instead of looking for five legs to the cat because they don't better define what to do, because if he really wants to change, this is the moment to show it, feeling that he already hates himself enough to achieve it. He pauses to tell her that the best way to start is at the beginning. Therefore, if he wants, he can start working as a domiciliary. To which the young man just nods. The judge can't help but smile at him as he tells him that he'll start on Monday and that, if he needs to, he'll even get her housing.

Something that could have become a movie story ended up being a nightmare. Since, just minutes after leaving the courthouse, the young man was viciously murdered by hit men. As commented by a former paramilitary, a cleaning lady and two executives who witnessed the scene.

What only makes you think that it is not the responsibility of a man to do the work of the state. By needing a joint effort to be able to provide real support to addicts, where they are not treated as criminals but as what they are, sick people. Facilitating support focused on their speedy recovery, isolating them from criminal gangs and promoting an adequate integration into society.

All this through a job, and if necessary, also a personal dose provided by the state, which will be gradually reduced, according to the progress of the program. This set of initiatives would promote pacifying the production and commercialization of substances, knowing that they will be consumed with or without state surveillance, so I suggest doing it with it.

14 of January 2023

Andrés Sossa