Chapter 16 - SAMUELâS WIFE
Samuel Wrightâs wife died two years after the North Coast trial.
The compensation fund recovered approximately seventy percent of his investment.
It paid for care during her final year.
I attended the funeral only because Samuel invited me.
He met me outside the church.
âYou donât need to sit near the family.â
âI understand.â
After the service, he handed me a folded note.
His wife had written it before dementia took most of her language.
Samuel says the lawyer is sorry.
Tell him sorrow should become usefulness.
I read the sentence several times.
âWhat does usefulness look like?â I asked.
Samuel shrugged.
âThat is your problem.â
My law license had been suspended for five years.
I could not represent clients.
I began volunteering with a financial-literacy organization under supervision.
No legal advice.
Only administrative support.
I organized documents.
Prepared timelines.
Helped victims locate accounts.
The work was quiet.
No courtroom.
No title.
No expensive suits.
Many clients reminded me of Clara.
People told by spouses that money was complicated.
People who signed because asking questions created arguments.
People who discovered loans carrying their names.
I never introduced myself as a redeemed man.
I disclosed my conviction when required.
Some people refused to work with me.
May you like
They had that right.
Sorrow became useful only when it did not demand an audience.
