"What do you mean I have nothing in my account?" Ashton shouted, his voice sharp enough to make the woman behind the counter flinch. He slammed his palm on the desk, the sound echoing through the bank.
The woman glanced nervously at her screen. "Sir, it says here that your current balance is... three hundred dollars."
"What? That's impossible! There was at least fifteen thousand in there!" Ashton's heart pounded in his chest. "How did that even happen? Are you people trying to rob me? You thieves...give me back my money!"
His voice rose higher, trembling with disbelief and fury. The woman looked helpless, eyes darting toward a man in a suit who approached from the back probably the manager.
"Sir.." the man said firmly, "I need you to calm down."
"Calm down? You took my money!" Ashton's voice cracked. "Bring it back right now!"
The manager sighed and turned the computer screen toward himself. "According to our records, this is a joint account. If you didn't withdraw the money, then someone else did..."
"Someone else?" Ashton repeated, his throat tightening.
"Yes.." the man said. "It shows here that a 'Max Couture' made the withdrawal."
Ashton's chest burned. His fingers clenched the edge of the counter until his knuckles turned white. "That's my boyfriend.....well, he was. You can't just let someone take money without my permission! ...."
"Sir.." the manager said carefully, his patience thinning, "your name is on the account, so is his. He had access. I'm sorry, but there's nothing we can do....."
"NO!"Ashton shouted. "You can't.....he stole it! He....."
"Security.." the manager said quietly.
Two guards approached. Ashton's words dissolved into angry, desperate noise as they grabbed him by the arms. "Let me go! He took everything! I'll sue all of you!"
Moments later, he was standing outside in the cold rain, his body trembling from rage and disbelief.
He raised his arm and yelled, "Taxi! Stop!"
A yellow cab pulled over, splashing water at his shoes. Ashton climbed in, his breath coming in short, broken bursts. "Police station.." he said through clenched teeth.
______
"No," he said, voice cracking. "No, you're not hearing me. That was everything. That was all I had."
The officer stayed seated. Older. Gray at the temples. He'd seen this kind of panic before, the kind that comes from someone who never had a safety net to begin with.
"Ashton," he said calmly, lifting a hand. "Sit down."
"I can't.... Ashton dragged a hand through his hair, pacing now. "I worked two jobs. I skipped meals. I barely slept I... I didn't buy anything. Nothing. That money was supposed to get me out. It was supposed to be my start."
His voice rose with every sentence.
"He knew, that son of b*tch. He knew I had no one, no backup, nothing. He promised me he wouldn't touch it"
The officer exhaled slowly. "I understand why you're upset."
"No, you don't," Ashton snapped, spinning toward him. His eyes were glassy. "If I don't get that money back, I'm done. I can't pay rent. I can't enroll in college this year. I can't..." His voice broke completely. "I won't....."
Silence hit hard.
The officer leaned forward. "I need you to hear me, son. What he did was wrong. But it was not illegal."
Ashton laughed, short and hysterical. "You're telling me taking someone's entire life savings isn't illegal?"
"Not from a joint account..it's not...." the officer said. "Both of you were owners. That means he didn't steal anything, legally speaking."
Ashton's hands curled into fists so tight his knuckles went white. "So what, I'm just supposed to accept this? He drains the account and I just....what....starve?..."
"I'm telling you the truth.." the officer said. "Because lying to you would be worse."
Ashton staggered back into the chair like his legs finally gave out. His breathing sped up, shallow and frantic.
" I trusted him" he whispered. "I didn't know he could take it without me knowing....he said he wanted to put money and could rent and live together and build our future together That's what couples do because I thought… I thought he really loved me."
"This is a civil matter.." he said softly. "Not fraud. Not theft. There's no police report I can file. No charges I can press. If I tried, it would get dismissed immediately..."
Ashton shook his head over and over, like repetition might undo reality.
"It's going to be fine....." the officer said quietly.
"You keep saying that," Ashton snapped, cutting him off tears finally spilling over.
The officer stood slowly "Listen to me..." he said. "What you're feeling right now.....panic, anger, despair....that makes sense. Anyone in your position would feel it. But the police can't undo this. We don't have that power."
Ashton pressed his palms into his eyes, shoulders shaking. "So that's it. He takes everything and walks away clean."
"Yes.." the officer said. "From the law's point of view."
For a long moment, the only sound in the room was Ashton's uneven breathing.
The officer hesitated, then slid a small card across the desk.
"This is a local shelter and a food program.." he said. "And this..." another card ".....is legal aid. They won't promise you anything, but they won't charge you either."
Ashton stared at the cards like they were written in another language.
"I didn't come here for charity.." he said hoarsely.
"I know.." the officer replied. "You came here for justice."
He paused, then added "Sometimes the system doesn't give it."