Before the Law

Scene: A Quiet Night and Kafka – Jessica and Sam Discuss Before the Law

The wind had picked up, rustling the palm trees outside Sam’s porch. The sky was dark, heavy with the promise of a storm, but neither of them moved to go inside. Jessica sat cross-legged on the wooden steps, a cigarette dangling from her fingers, while Sam leaned back against the railing, the glow of a lantern flickering between them.

A book sat open on Sam’s lap. Before the Law.

Jessica exhaled smoke into the night. “Kafka again. What, Metamorphosis wasn’t enough?”

Sam smirked. “You didn’t complain when we did Dostoevsky.”

Jessica huffed. “Fair point.” She took another drag, staring at the waves in the distance. “So what’s the lesson tonight? That bureaucracy is an existential nightmare?”

Sam tilted his head. “That’s the surface read. You ever actually sit with this one?”

Jessica flicked ash onto the step beside her. “A man stands in front of a gate his whole life, waiting to be let in. Only to find out the door was made just for him. Then he dies. That about sum it up?”

Sam gave a slow nod. “That’s one way to tell it.”

Jessica rested her elbow on her knee, watching him. “You read something different?”

Sam shrugged. “The man waits because he thinks he needs permission. He could have walked through at any time, but he won’t do it unless someone tells him it’s okay.”

Jessica smirked. “You’re gonna tell me that’s me, aren’t you?”

Sam didn’t answer right away. He watched her, calm as ever, letting the silence settle between them before finally saying, “Would I be wrong?”

Jessica rolled her eyes, taking another drag of her cigarette. “It’s different.”

“Is it?”

She let the smoke curl from her lips, gaze fixed on the dark horizon. “That guy was waiting for permission. I never waited for anything.”

Sam tilted his head slightly. “Didn’t you?”

Jessica flicked the cigarette into the sand and exhaled slowly. “You think I’m just standing outside the door?”

Sam met her gaze. “I think you’re still looking for the doorkeeper.”

Jessica’s fingers twitched.

Sam leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. “You keep looking for someone to give you the truth. To tell you what’s real. What’s not. But what if there’s no answer? What if the only thing keeping you outside is you?”

Jessica’s jaw tightened.

Sam let the words sit, then leaned back again, picking up his drink. “Kafka’s got a point, Jess. People wait their whole lives for an answer they already have. And then they die still waiting.”

Jessica rubbed her thumb over her knuckles, a muscle twitching in her jaw. “And what do you think?”

Sam took a sip, watching her over the rim of his glass. “I think you already walked through.”

Jessica blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

Sam set his drink down. “You think you’re still waiting for an answer, but you already made your choice. You burned everything down. You left Jason behind. You didn’t wait for anyone to tell you it was okay.”

Jessica swallowed. The night air felt heavier now.

Sam leaned back, arms crossed. “The only one keeping you outside is you.”

Jessica looked away, her fingers tapping against her knee. She stayed quiet for a long time.

Then, finally, she let out a slow breath.

“So what you’re saying is…” She picked up her glass and took a sip, smirking slightly. “If I was in a Kafka story, I’d already be dead.”

Sam chuckled, shaking his head. “Or maybe you’re the first one who actually made it inside.”

Jessica didn’t respond right away. She just watched him, expression unreadable.

Then, quietly: “Guess we’ll see what’s on the other side.”

Sam nodded, raising his glass.

Jessica clinked hers against his. For the first time, she wasn’t afraid of the answer.