In the plaintiffs’ camp, Juniper, Daniel, and Sophia exchanged looks of quiet determination. They had done all they could. Now, it was up to the jury to decide.

The courthouse’s grand lobby had transformed into an impromptu campground as the hours crept by. Briefcases served as pillows for those who hadn’t claimed seats, while others dozed in uncomfortable positions against marble columns. A young family had settled into the back corner of the courtroom, their children coloring quietly on the floor as if this momentous waiting game was just another family outing.

“The media seems certain we’ll have a verdict before lunch,” Daniel observed quietly, nodding toward the cluster of reporters hunched over their scrolls. “They’re saying discrimination cases with clear statistical evidence usually come back quickly.”