Page 38 of Don't Speak

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Seven years ago

“All rise. This Court, with the Honorable Judge Henderson presiding, is now in session,” the bailiff says as the judge walks in.

We stand in unison until the judge has made his way to his seat.

Sliding into his chair, he says, “You may be seated.” We follow, sitting back in our seats just as in sync as we stood.

The prosecutor sits on the left, containing a middle-aged dark-haired man in a navy suit.

He has a briefcase in front of him, and he looks like he’s ready to attack.

On the right side of the court sits the defendant and his lawyer.

The defendant being… him. The fucking piece of shit that took my sister’s innocence. Sean Edwards.

He sits there, completely void of all emotion, staring straight ahead. His lawyer also has a briefcase sitting before him.

“Your Honor, the prosecution would like to call Nikki Williams to the stand.”

The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen stands and walks to the witness stand. I’m immediately enthralled with her. She looks… broken. Just like me.

“Raise your right hand,” the bailiff commands, and she does. “Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

“I do,” she answers and nods her head.

“You may be seated.”

Nikki steps over to the stand, taking a seat.

She looks out onto the jury before making her way to the rest of the courtroom.

I’m sitting in the very back, off to the corner.

She can’t see me where I’m sitting. I sat the furthest away from that scumbag because I don’t want him to know I’m here either.

I talked to the prosecutor already and gave him my statement.

I asked to be kept out of this case as much as possible.

My mother was put on the stand yesterday, playing the role of the “grieving mom.” I rolled my eyes the entire time.

She barely paid attention to Charlie. I’m only referred to as “the brother.” Today, Nikki is testifying in our favor.

The prosecutor speaks. “So, Ms. Williams. How do you know the defendant?

“He was my stepfather.”

“And how long had he been your stepfather?

“He married my mom when I was seven.”

“And that was the age you made claims that the defendant began sexually assaulting you?

“That is correct. Until I was fourteen.”

“And what were some of the things he would make you do?

“Most of the time, he would touch me in private areas, and he would make me perform oral on him.”

“And can you tell the jury what he would make you say if you told anyone?”

“He would tell me that he would kill my mom.” She says that as she looks directly at the jury.

The prosecutor asks her more questions. Some about her mother, some about her abuse, but then he moves on to a topic I didn’t see coming.

“So it is my understanding that after making the claims the defendant was sexually abusing you, that you recanted everything you said.”

“That is correct.” She looks down at her hands, which by the movement of her arms, she seems to be fidgeting with.

My heart drops. How does this help Charlie’s case?

“Can you tell us why you lied?”

“When subpoenas were being sent out for court appearances, my mother knew she was going to get one. At the time, we had been living with my grandparents, and I had a friend whose parents offered for me to come live with them so that I could attend high school in the city where I had been established the longest. I was going into 9th grade, and I wanted to start high school with my friends. She knew this and used it to persuade me to recant my statement. I had notified my mother of the abuse years prior, and she didn’t take any action to protect me.

Knowing that I wouldn’t want her to go to prison, she bribed and guilt-tripped me.

Go back and lie to protect her, and I could go live with my friend and her family for high school.

Being a fourteen-year-old girl who thought her mom still hung the moon despite everything, I chose to take the offer, fearing my mother would go to jail, and I’d end up having to go live with my dad. ”

“So, had your mother not bribed you with a deal you couldn’t refuse, you wouldn’t have gone back and lied, correct?”

“Objection,” the defense attorney states. “Speculation.”

“Overruled. I’ll allow it. Please, answer the question, Nikki.”

“No, I wouldn’t have. I would have gone through with the charges.”

“No further questions, your honor.”

After the testimonies have finished and the evidence has been shown, the jury is sent away to deliberate.

We’re given a short recess, and the courtroom clears out.

Nikki exits ahead of me, and I slowly follow behind her.

She makes her way to the bathroom, and from there, the vending machine.

I stand far enough away for her not to notice me and far enough that others won’t think I’m a creeper.

I can’t help but just look at her. She wears a beautiful black cocktail dress with black heels.

She’s currently looking at her phone, her hair falling in a halo around her face.

She brushes it back with her fingers, and my lip twitches up.

She’s just breathtaking. A part of her calls to me in a way I haven’t felt before.

Her brokenness calls to mine, like two soulmates reuniting after years spent apart.

I have this overwhelming need to make her mine, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

After hours of deliberation, the jury returns with its verdict. Guilty. On all counts. Twenty-five years without the possibility of parole. Good. May he rot in prison. I hope the other inmates find out quickly what he’s in for. I know they’ll take real good care of him there.

Nikki cries in relief. I know the pain she feels, and that the severe regret of not going through with her charges eats at her.

Had she, my sister could be alive. Do I blame her?

No. She was just a kid. One who was manipulated by the one person put here to protect her the most. And I understand that about her.

I know Charlie would be happy that her story was heard. That she helped save who knows how many other victims he could have had. She’s probably celebrating—wherever she is. I’m not the religious type, but I like to think our loved ones still have a way of looking down on us. Wherever that may be.

Once the courtroom is cleared out, I make my way to my car. From a distance, I watch Nikki get into hers. She calls someone on the phone, presumably telling them about the verdict. She puts her car in drive and pulls away, but not before I snag the license plate number.

This woman fascinates me. To be so strong yet so broken at the same time.

We are one and the same. I’ve felt so alone since my sister was taken from me, and I have a feeling she feels lonely too.

I haven’t been able to connect with anyone emotionally, the rage of my sister’s death consuming the majority of my being.

But Nikki… There's something about her. Something I am desperately craving to explore. We have a connection no one else could possibly understand. She doesn’t know it yet, but she will.

I will make this woman mine. No matter how long it takes.