42
The courthouse was buzzing. People of all ages chattered around as they each worked their way through the maze of people bouncing from courtroom to courtroom.
I fought the urge to bring my hand to my mouth and bite on my nails. Instead I balled my fingers into a tight fist that rested on my lap, my nails digging into my palm almost painfully.
My leg bounced against the wood of the bench, the pressure of being here starting to feel overwhelming.
My focus darted to the bathroom door across from me where Knox had just stepped out, adjusting his suit jacket. He looked good in a suit. I'd never seen him so formal before, and it fit him quite well.
I sucked in a breath, trying to regulate my racing pulse.
I knew when I agreed to give my testimony on the stand that I'd be nervous, but I thought I would have felt a bit prepared than I did right now.
Wringing my fingers together nervously, I glanced back toward Serena as Knox took his seat back next to me.
She was talking animatedly with our lawyer a few feet away. I hope my lawyer feels more confident than I do.
"This isn't my first time in the courthouse, you know?" Knox's voice met my ears.
My brows furrowed as I turned my head to face him. Confusion consumed my face and seemingly prompted him to continue.
"When I was ten someone stole my dad's car," Knox paused, his hand taking hold of one of my mine before interlacing our fingers. "I saw the guy cause I was out riding my bike."
I looked down at our hands, warmth of satisfaction spreading through my chest.
"What did you do," I asked.
Knox chuckled, "I was ten, baby, I couldn't do very much."
His fingers worked circles into my palms as he continued, "But when they tracked the car down, it had been abandoned and so then I became the only person who could identify the guy.
They rounded up some suspects and had me ID him.
So, I had to come to court and give my witness statement on the stand. "
I hummed, my lips twitching down as the realization dawned on me.
"That must have been hard," I whispered.
Knox shrugged. "I never really had much of a choice. It was up to my dad, there was no world in which I wasn't going to have to go up there."
Nodding solemnly, my eyes darted back to Serena before returning to our linked fingers.
"You have a choice, though," Knox continued, his voice soft as he leaned down to speak in my ear.
"I'm nervous," I confessed, my gaze finding Knox's as I frowned once more.
"I know." Knox nodded, his face more sad than I had ever seen before.
I licked my lips, looking away again.
"It's just," I sighed, "what if it's not enough? I could force myself to go up there and speak in front of all those people but they could always choose his side. They could choose to let him loose."
Knox hummed thoughtfully, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.
"They could," he admitted before continuing, "but there's no way to know for sure until it happens.
I believe in you and your ability to go up there and speak about what that little shit did to you.
But, if that's something you don't feel ready to do, I will support you just as much. And I know Serena will too."
I gulped, blinking back the tears that burned at the back of my eyes.
"I love you," I whispered, too many emotions clawing at my chest to break out.
Knox smiled, "I love you too, Annie."
I nodded, biting my lip as my mind worked through everything Knox had said along with every possibility that could come soon after this trial.
"I'm going up there," I affirmed, more confident in that decision than I had been for the past several weeks.
Knox squeezed my hand, laying a kiss on the back of my knuckles.
Just then Serena approached, our lawyer just a couple short steps behind her.
"How are you feeling, Annie?" Serena asked, her face soft but clearly hesitant.
I cleared my throat, "I'm okay, I think I can do this."
Serena's smile brightened and even my lawyer seemed slightly more relieved.
"Are you ready then?" She asked.
I nodded, giving one last glance towards Knox who gave me a reassuring wink, "yes, I am."
Following behind my lawyer, we walked into the courtroom. Several people were already seated all around. Calvin's lawyer was already at their table, shuffling papers around.
Thankfully, Calvin wasn't allowed to be in the courtroom while I was to give my testimony.
I wasn't sure I'd be able to actually give mine if he were to have been here.
I had no doubt that he would be coming in soon after, though. I wasn't sure if I had to stick around for that part but even then, I had the confidence that I'd be able to avoiding looking in his direction.
I just had to keep reminding myself that he couldn't hurt me anymore, not here and never again.
Serena and Knox took their seats directly behind me, in the first row. Their reassuring smiles and the confidence swirling in their eyes was just what I needed.
This certainly wasn't going to be easy for me, but I had to be proud of myself for actually following through and standing up for myself. After all this time, Calvin was going to get exactly what he deserves.
"All rise, The Honorable Judge Jones presiding," the bailiff's voice echoed through the room.
I quickly stood along with everyone else and stared as the judge of my case entered the room.
Taking a deep steadying breath, I squared my shoulders, now feeling finally ready to face my greatest challenge yet.