Company Of Angels || Adam Park

forty one

Wednesday came way too soon. I didn't know how court was going to go but all I knew was that I was beyond scared out of my mind. I had managed to not see or hear from my grandmother up until today. Now, after all this time, I would have to face her in that courtroom, and I could hardly stomach the thought of seeing her. I did not catch a second of sleep last night because I spent the whole night worrying about how today was going to go.

I didn't touch a single piece off food that was given to me for breakfast. I was so scared that I could barely think straight. I was exceptionally quiet that morning – not even speaking a word to Adam when I saw him at the Court House. He, along with Ms. Maria, and the rest of our friends had showed up to support me. Yet, I could not speak a single word to them. I was just trying to focus on not having a mental breakdown as we walked into the Court house. I was then taken back into a separate waiting room with Mr. and Mrs. DeSantos, Mrs. Yates, and who I assumed was the lawyer in my case.

I could feel my hands trembling as I rubbed my sweaty palms on the thighs of my pants. I felt like I was on the verge of crying but I hid the tears in my eyes well. I felt like we had sat in this room forever. To the point where I felt like the walls were starting to close in on me and that set me right on the course of having a panic attack. I was able to push it away, but only for a little while. If I had eaten that morning, everything would have been sitting in my throat when the Bailiff came in the room to bring us into the court room.

Mrs. DeSantos held my hand as we walked into the room and then stood behind a table. Just on the other side of us, was my grandmother and probably her own lawyer. I couldn't even look in her direction. Looking in her direction would be very bad for me right now. The entire room was quiet and then instructed to risen as the Judge entered the room. Judge Christine Foyer.

I swallowed hard when we were asked to be seated and the Judge started speaking. First, she went through each person's name that was sitting at one of these tables. I stared at the bench she was sitting behind, avoiding all possible eye contact I could with anyone right now. My heart was beating so fast that it felt like it wasn't beating at all – but yet it felt like it was going to burst right out of my chest.

Judge Foyer began going over some basic rules in the courtroom and I hadn't expected to be brought to the witness stand right away. I guess this was protocol for both sides of this case to fully understand the issue at hand from each of our perspectives. They explained to me that I would simply be questioned from both lawyers involved. This was not going to go well. I didn't know if I could do this.

The Bailiff escorted me to the little seat next to the Judge. I sat down and without even realizing it, I started digging my own nails into the palms of my hands because I was so nervous and afraid. I didn't even feel any relief when the lawyer fighting for me started asking me questions first. I didn't even catch her name.

"Can you please state your full legal name for our records?" she asked as she paced in front from me.

"Danielle Ann Hale." I choked out, not even sure if I was speaking loud enough.

"Thank you. Can you please tell me when it was you moved to Angel Grove and please share your previous residency?" She continued pacing.

"I-I don't remember the exact date of when I moved here. It was late August of last year. Previously I lived in Michigan." I couldn't even remember when I moved here. It seemed like just yesterday most days.

"Thank you, Danielle. What was the reasoning for you moving across the country?" she asked.

My stomach was twisting in knots, "Both of my parents passed away in a car accident at the end of July."