The message stayed on his screen longer than it should have.
"Drop the case."
Michael stared at it.
Not blinking.
Not reacting.
But inside—
Something had shifted.
He locked his phone and dropped it beside him.
"It's nothing," he muttered.
But even he didn't believe that.
Days passed.
But not quietly.
Books piled up.
Notes filled pages.
Case files stacked endlessly.
Michael buried himself in the work—
Laws
Precedents
Real-life cases
But the deeper he went—
The harder it became to breathe through it.
Because these weren't just arguments.
They were lives.
Stories that didn't end well.
"…How do you defend this," he whispered one night, staring at his screen,
"…when the system itself is the problem?"
He rubbed his face, exhausted.
But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
His phone buzzed.
Lucas.
Michael answered almost immediately.
"Hey."
"Hey," Lucas replied softly.
A pause.
"Did you eat?"
Michael smiled faintly.
"Yeah. You?"
"Barely."
Michael shook his head slightly.
"You need to take care of yourself."
Lucas chuckled.
"Look who's talking."
Silence settled.
Warm.
"I miss you," Lucas said.
Michael closed his eyes briefly.
"I miss you too."
Another pause.
"I love you."
Michael didn't hesitate.
"I love you too."
And just like that—
The noise in his head quieted.
But only for a moment.
Because he still didn't tell him.
Later that night—
Michael called Grace.
She picked up almost immediately.
"Michael?"
"Hey."
Something in his voice made her sit up.
"…What's wrong?"
Michael exhaled slowly.
"I took my final case."
"Okay… what is it?"
He hesitated.
Then—
"LGBTQ defense… in African countries."
Silence.
Not confusion.
Fear.
"Michael…" she said quietly.
"I know."
"No—you don't," Grace replied, her voice shaking slightly.
"You don't understand how people here react to things like that."
Michael swallowed.
"They don't just disagree," she continued.
"They go after people. They destroy them if they can."
A pause.
"…I got a threat already."
That did it.
"What?!" Grace's voice rose instantly.
"Michael, this is serious!"
"I know," he said again.
But this time—
He meant it.
She went quiet for a moment.
Then softer—
"…Are you going to stop?"
Michael didn't answer immediately.
Because he already knew the answer.
"No."
Grace exhaled slowly.
"…Then be careful," she said.
"Please."
A pause.
"And don't do this alone."
Michael nodded slightly.
"I won't."
But even as he said it—
He wasn't sure.
The next evening—
His phone rang again.
Unknown number.
Michael hesitated.
Then answered.
"Hello?"
"…Michael?"
His breath caught.
"…Sam?"
A soft laugh came through the line.
"Yeah… it's me."
Michael sat up instantly.
"Where have you been?! I lost your contact after we left the seminary!"
"I know," Sam said. "It's been a while."
They both laughed lightly.
"How are you?" Michael asked.
"I'm good," Sam replied. "Actually… I've been ordained a deacon."
Michael froze for a second.
"…You're serious?"
"Yeah. And soon… Rev. Father."
A wide smile spread across Michael's face.
"You actually made it…"
Sam chuckled.
"Looks like it."
Michael shook his head, still smiling.
"I'm proud of you."
"Thanks."
A small pause.
Then Sam asked—
"What about you?"
Michael leaned back slightly.
"Law school… final year now."
"Wow," Sam said. "Look at you."
Michael smiled faintly.
Then—
He told him.
About the case.
About the threats.
Silence followed.
"…That's serious," Sam said finally.
"I know."
A pause.
"But if that's where your heart is," Sam added,
"then don't ignore it."
Michael looked down slightly.
"I won't."
Sam's tone lightened again.
"So… what about Lucas?"
Michael smiled instantly.
"He's… doing well. Very well."
Sam laughed.
"Ahhh… lover boy."
Michael shook his head, smiling.
"I'm serious."
"I know," Sam said.
"That guy loved you even back then… don't lose him."
Michael's smile softened.
"I won't."
They laughed again.
Then said their goodbyes.
And for a moment—
Everything felt lighter.
Later that night—
Another call came in.
Different number.
Michael frowned slightly, then answered.
"Hello?"
The voice on the other end was shaking.
"Please… are you Michael?"
"…Yes."
"My cousin… he's been arrested."
Michael's expression tightened.
"For what?"
A pause.
"…For being gay."
Silence.
Heavy.
"They're going to kill him," the voice continued.
"Please… I saw your case… I heard what you're doing…"
Michael closed his eyes briefly.
"Please help him."
The words hung in the air.
Begging.
Breaking.
Michael didn't speak immediately.
Because this—
Was no longer theory.
This was real.
A life.
Right now.
He inhaled slowly.
"…Send me everything," he said.
Hope flickered in the voice.
"You'll take it?"
Michael's answer came steady.
"Yes."
A pause.
Then—
"I'm coming to Africa."
Silence.
Shock.
Then—
"Thank you… thank you…"
They exchanged details.
Names.
Location.
Everything.
When the call ended—
Michael sat still.
Because now—
There was no turning back.
He called Lucas immediately.
Lucas picked up quickly.
"Michael?"
"I need to tell you something."
And he did.
Everything.
The call.
The case.
The decision.
Silence followed.
Then—
"No."
Lucas' voice was firm.
"That's too dangerous."
Michael closed his eyes briefly.
"I know."
"What if something happens to you?" Lucas continued.
"What if I lose you?"
The fear in his voice—
Was real.
"I can't lose you," Lucas said again.
Michael's voice softened.
"I understand… but I can't ignore this."
Silence.
Heavy.
Then Lucas exhaled slowly.
"…I hate this."
A pause.
"But I won't stop you."
Michael opened his eyes.
"Lucas—"
"Just come back to me," Lucas said quietly.
Michael swallowed.
"I will."
A pause.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
And just like that—
Love chose trust.
Even through fear.
Night fell.
Michael sat alone again.
Phone in hand.
Then—
It buzzed.
Same unknown sender.
His expression hardened.
He opened it.
"Don't do what you are about to do…"
"If you don't want to lose your life."
Silence filled the room.
But this time—
It wasn't just a warning.
It felt like something closer.
Something real.
Something waiting.
This time… it wasn't just a warning—it was a promise.