One day, she just couldn’t get up anymore.

Christina felt weak all over. It was as if her body didn’t have any energy. Her husband expended more and more time out. Her grandmother didn’t have the strength to look after her.

- Tsc. You didn’t even take a bath today?

- You smell.

- Shit, you actually pissed on the bed?

Nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists - at first, her husband did not allow for any of those to enter the house.

Then, once Christina couldn’t go to the bathroom by herself anymore, he gave up.

“He will go back to that woman now…” - As sad as it seemed, this was the thought which lingered on Christina’s mind most of the time. - “I’m not enough for him anymore.” - “He won’t come back”.

Her eyes were foggy most of the time.

Depression medication helped at first, but it didn’t go as planned. First, her grandmother had a team of health professionals at her disposal.

Nutrition specialists. Acupuncturists. Nurses, doctors, physiotherapists.

However, little by little, the numbers reduced.

Christina didn’t know what was happening outside anymore. She lived inside herself, amidst thoughts about cheating and uselessness.

A broken doll without life.

- Your Honour, my granddaughter is in too frail of a state to be able to attend to the audience. Please reconsider.

Sasha said, while holding on the phone.

- I see. I understand. Thank you, your honor.

*creek, creek*

Sasha stood at her granddaughter’s side. She couldn’t afford what she could before. She also couldn’t take loans anymore.

Her lips were tense while she cleaned Christina’s forehead.

***

Superior Court of Justice

Case number Xxxxx-xx, Sasha Hooligan against Yyyy YYYyyy

Sasha caressed her granddaughter’s hair.

- I shall now read the verdict.

A man on official attire held a piece of paper on his hands. He had a look of contempt, and at every chance he could, he would steal a glance at Sasha and her granddaughter.

- On the case of Sasha Hooligan versus Yyyy, namely the husband of her granddaughter Christina Hooligan, having read all the relevant papers and heard all relevant information, I so decided:

- On the accusation of abandonment by part of Yyyy, seeing that the person had filled the divorce papers while the spouse was still conscious and in her right mind and better judgment, I hereby deny the motion.

Sasha’s hands powerlessly gripped her wheelchair. In her right mind?!

He appeared one day when she couldn’t even stand anymore with a bundle of papers and told her “sign here for me”. She didn’t read them, she wasn’t even aware that he was asking for a divorce!

- On the case of Sasha Hooligan versus “Johnson and Smith Health Insurance and Co.”, on the allegation of breach of contract in providing healthcare services, seen that Sasha Hooligan lied about her association with the “Squeam Memorial and Pride Foundation”, I hereby deny the motion.

Neither Sasha or her daughter had any bonds with the foundation, except for some members who, after looking at her photo, said that she and their “boss” had “a thing going on”.

Sasha was furious. Why would they do that? Why would the foundation even be consulted in the first place?

- And on the case of Sasha Hooligan versus Fernanda Yyyy, for obscene behavior and mental harassment, seeing that it wasn’t proved that the tape provided as evidence had been produced by her and Yyyyy, I hereby deny the motion.

A few days after Sasha started suing Yyyy, a DVD tape reached her house. The contents were basically a few minutes of intimacy between Christina’s ex-husband and Fernanda.

She hid the tape from Christina.

- Now, for the compensations and losses.

- On the case of Sasha Hooligan versus Yyyy, I hereby condemn Sasha Hooligan to pay reparations. On the case of Sasha Hooligan versus “Johnson and Smith Health Insurance and Co.”, I hereby condemn Sasha Hooligan to pay reparations. And on the case of Sasha Hooligan versus Fernanda Yyyy, I hereby condemn Sasha Hooligan to pay reparations.

- Also, mr. Yyyy, congratulations on your wedding. Dismissed!

A flash of light went pass Christina’s eyes at that moment.