Freedom at last... :)

With sweat stains on my shirt,
I wait for the final verdict,
hoping that it won't be so bad,
starting to feel really sick.

My eyes become blurry,
my hands are beginning to shake,
my throat has become dry,
I don't know how much more I can take.

As I sit waiting for my name to be called,
so many thoughts going through my head,
could this one mistake end it all?
or will I have mercy instead?

My name is called and I stand up,
I walk up to the podium,
I get told what my consequences are,
and my heart is joyfully numb.

Though I still received punishment,
and now I completely understand;
knowing that things could have been worse,
and I walk so proud away from the stand.

For the past month in a half,
I've been stuck in sand,
sinking slowly with every breath,
but now I'm a free man!