Chapter 7 - The Courtroom
The trial began months later.
By then, I could stand with assistance.
My legs still hurt.
My shoulder still ached.
But I refused to enter the courthouse in silence.
Eli walked beside me.
Claire sat behind her attorney.
Victor stared straight ahead.
The warehouse footage played.
Nobody moved.
The sound of the chain echoed through the courtroom.
Click.
Claire closed her eyes.
Victor looked down.
The prosecutor spoke about neglect.
Endangerment.
Intent.
The defense argued that they never intended for me to die.
I testified.
“Did you believe you might die in that warehouse?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because my children knew I could not stand.”
The courtroom became silent.
I looked toward Claire.
Then Victor.
“They knew I needed medication.”
My voice did not break.
“They knew the temperature was below freezing.”
Neither looked at me.
“And they chained the door.”
May you like
That was all I needed to say.
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