I study his face as he pauses, momentarily stumped. Does he honestly expect me to shed theatrical tears of guilt, to present a plethora of pitiful reasons as to why I had no other choice? Murmurs ripple behind me, growing to a crescendo under the high ceiling. The Judge regains his composure, and clears his throat. The hall silences.

“’Alisa was seen printing and distributing flyers around the school rallying participation for a demonstration outside the school. She had been placing these flyers in students’ lockers and passing them around the school,’ reported on the 2nd of January 1968, by Ivan Petrov at 18:06h. Is this not written in your handwriting, Mr. Petrov?”