The Trial...
“Are you ready for this?" Brandon asks as we walk into the room, his face full of concern and worry.
“I'll be fine. If it means getting rid of him for good, it'll be worth it."
"But his attorney is going to be ruthless…"
"I know. But so am I." He smiles slightly, pulling me into his arms.
After a few moments I sigh, pulling away from him to go check over my reflection. Walking out into the other room, I walk over into the kitchen, preparing myself a cup of coffee to calm my nerves. I hadn't realized how badly I’m shaking until Aunt Suzanne comes over and places her hand over mine.
"I hate that you have to do this dear."
"I know Aunt Suzanne. I know. " She sighs slightly and kisses my temple, before walking off to check on Maddy. Putting my empty cup in the sink, I smooth down my hair and wrap my hand firmly in Brandon's. I hope I'm ready for this.
~~~~
Walking into the courtroom makes my skin crawl. Taking my seat on the right hand side of the gallery I notice the three ladies sitting with my attorney which eerily favor me. All three are roughly the same height and build as me as well as the same shade of brunette.
As the first woman begins to tell her story, I find my blood running cold. The details, the actions, the same sweet gestures. I blink to fight the tears and suddenly I feel guilty. It's my fault these girls were subjected to such violence. Had I only stayed they wouldn't be testifying right now. The next thought hits me even harder. If I had stayed I might not be sitting here right now, I might be buried right next to Caleb. A shiver hits me and Brandon grasps my hand tighter, slowly tracing his thumb in the space between my thumb and index finger. "Baby, are you okay?"
"No. It's my fault. All my fault."
"No it’s not. He's the one who hurt you and them. Never blame yourself."
"I could have stopped it."
"How? By staying and being his personal punching bag?"
All I can do is shake my head.
"Jasmine, look at me. It’s all on him. Let this unnecessary guilt go and tell your story. If they don't see him as the monster he is, then I'll have to take care of him myself."
"Brandon." He places his finger to his lips and averts his eyes towards the judge. The judge is staring at us with a hard look on his face. "Is there something you would like to say, Miss Grayson?"
"No sir."
He looks over to girl on the witness stand. "You may continue."
As her story unfolds I realize that they were the lucky ones. The ones without scars, only pictures are their reminders. As they show the bloody and bruised images of those poor girls faces I can feel the bile rising into my throat.
~~~~
“We now call to the witness stand, Miss Jasmine Grayson."
I’m still shaking like mad as I step up to the witness stand, realizing that at this moment in time, I probably look like a scared child. The judge bows his head slightly in my direction, giving me the smallest amount of comfort. I placed my unsteady hands on the edge of my seat and draw in several deep breaths. As the questions begin, my head is spinning. The very thought of him being only a few feet from me makes me sweat.
"She says she was abused, but we have no proof. Where are the photos showing Miss Grayson’s bruises and scars?" That statement sets off a rage in me I can't control.
"You want proof?! I can give you fucking proof!" I scream, as tears begin to fill my eyes.
“Miss Grayson please control yourself. I realize that this may be painful for you, but I will not hesitate to place you in contempt."
"Yes your honor," I croak between the sobs. My attorney, Whitley Blake, shoots me a soft glare, before turning to the judge.
"Your honor, permission to show proof?" He nods curtly, and the defense attorney glares at me. Whitley leans over to me, and softly whispers, "Would you be up for showing the people in the courtroom your scars?" I nod lightly, and pull my hair back revealing the pink scar running down my jawline to my neck. Murmurs among the jury escalate for a moment and suddenly stop as I turn around. I slowly lift up my shirt up and gasps run through the room as they see the scarred mess that runs from my back to my side. But the one sound that really stood out was the retching of one of the other girls. I hear a door slam somewhere in the back of the room and I blink back the hot tears that are continuing to pool. Lowering my shirt, I slowly turn around, dreading the looks of pity on their faces. Even Jeff looks lost for words through sober eyes, though he quickly recovers his composure.
"I think we've heard enough from Miss Grayson now. Thank you." I nod at the judge and leave the stand, running from the room and straight into the arms of an awaiting Brandon. Nuzzling my head into his chest I let the tears fall, and as I shake and sob he strokes my hair, his face buried in my hair. When I calm down, he lifts my face up to look at him and he gently strokes away my tears.
"Do you want to watch the rest of the trial? Or do you want to go home?"
"I want to watch him go down. I need closure." He nods silently, and we walk back into the courtroom, hand in hand. Sitting down next to Mrs. Whitaker, I place my head on her shoulder for a few moments and she leans, in placing a kiss on my temple in return. Gripping my hand in his own, Brandon gives me a smile that says, "If I'd known...” and I nod to let him know I understand. Just as I begin to control myself and my emotions, the judge utters the words I honestly don't want to hear, as I am brought face to face with the reason for my demons once more.
"We now call to the stand, Mr. Jeffrey Callahan."
As he walks to the stand, my heart stops. His eyes are cold, a small smirk is on his face like he knows he’s going to get away with it. My hands are shaking and it takes every part of me not to run up to him and wipe the arrogant look off his face. As the questioning begins, I feel myself calm down, seeing the jury's reaction. His tone and demeanor speak volumes. The members of the jury seem to feel as I do. They all have disapproving and disgusted looks on their faces, like they have already reached a verdict, and my hope returns.
Listening to him talk makes bile begin to rise in my throat again and a cold chill washes over me. Everything he says is a lie. I look at Brandon and shake my head trying to fight the urge to vomit. His grasp on my hand becomes tighter with every word.
"I love you," he whispers. I only nod because I can't speak. As Jeff finishes his testimony and leaves the stand, the look on his face is arrogant. Closing my eyes, I swallow hard hoping the jury will see through his bullshit. A look in his direction reveals he is staring at us. Before I can turn away I see him swipe his finger across his throat and points at me. The nausea is now almost overpowering so I lean forward and rest my head in my hands. "I saw that," Brandon hisses under his breath, "and I'm pretty sure everyone else did too." I can only nod due to the emotions running through me, rendering me unable to speak.
Recess is called and we step outside to wait for the verdict. The next couple of hours begin to wear on me. As I pace the floor, one of the other girls comes up to me, stopping my incessant fidgeting and pulls me into an embrace. "I'm so sorry for all he did to you. He tried to pull some shit with me but I was fortunate that my roommate got off work early," she whispers into my ear. Her tear soaked cheek finding mine brings me an odd sense of peace.
I nod.
~~~~
"Has the jury had enough time to deliberate?"
"Yes, your honor."
"And what is the verdict?"
"For actions of domestic violence and child endangerment, we find the defendant guilty." I feel Brandon's hand tighten around my own in triumph.
"For both emotional and physical harassment, we find the defendant guilty."
"For attempted murder, we find the defendant..." I began to shake, happiness building inside of me. Since he’s been found guilty of the previous two charges, then he would get what was coming to him with this final charge, right?
"Guilty."
My breath stops in my throat, and everything goes black.