Chapter 37
Ariel
When we get back to Retirement Ranch there’s a letter waiting for me. This one is not good like Teddy’s. This one comes from the courthouse down in Frankfort where Greg’s trial is being held. They want me to go on stand and testify against him. If I don’t he’ll likely get 10 years of prison with possibility of parole. He’s a lawyer with many good one’s at his disposal. I feel sick to my stomach, but I have to. He has to be punished.
A couple weeks later, I stand before a judge, jury, lawyers, and a little audience.
“For years I was terrified to come forward about the abuse Greg put me through. Terrified every time he came home. ‘ Will this be the day he goes too far? ’ Except I see now that everyday was too far. The first time he hit me was too far. The first time he raped me was too far. Every time after that was too far. His abuse became so natural in my life that ‘too far’ for me became if he killed me. It took me losing my baby, my daughter , and very nearly losing my life to realize that. It took far too long for me to come forward, but I’m here now begging you to give me the justice I deserve. The justice my daughter deserves. The justice every abuse victim deserves. Please send my abuser, the murderer of my daughter, Greg James to prison for life. I’m asking for not just myself, but for every person going through abuse at this moment. Twenty two to twenty five percent of women have been abused, and that’s just what’s reported. I guarantee that the accurate percentage is actually close to seventy possibly even eighty. These women going through it are like me. Terrified. Scared that they’ll be killed if they speak up. Scared of being ridiculed. So many women come forward and are called liars, and labeled as bitches. People don’t want to believe this abuse is real or possible but it is. THIS has to change. Women like me need a safe space to come forward. No women should be living in fear. Men like Greg need to be held accountable. Their sentences need to be longer. Their punishments more severe than a slap on the wrist. No women should have to go through the hell that I did. Stories like mine HAVE to stop repeating. So please send the man that beat, raped and killed my baby to prison for life. Make an example out of him.”
They listened. Greg is going to prison for life. The jury found him guilty of abuse, assault, rape, and murder. He has no possibility of parole. The judge spoke after the jury shared this sentence. “In my lifetime as a judge, I have dealt with many cases similar to this one and Ms. Rose is right. These stories need to stop repeating. Court dismissed.”