Dysfunctional

17

Cassie's P.O.V

I fixed my dress again as I checked my hair in the mirror. Mrs. Clifford knocked on the door.

"Come in," I said nervously. She entered the guest room and smiled. I sighed and plopped down on the bed.

"How are you doing sweetheart?" She asked.

I shook my head and sighed again. "Anxious, scared, I feel like I want to cry." I said.

"You'll be okay," she said rubbing my back as she sat down next to me. I nodded my head.

"I'm just afraid my father will walk free," I said. Thinking of that made me extremely scared. He could come back and find me.

"He won't, I promise." she said, she checked her watch quickly before standing up.

"It's time we get going." she said. I nodded standing up and pulling on my black heels. I checked my hair quickly again and walked out of the room. After a short drive, we made it to the court house. We walked inside, paparazzi surrounding us. Security guards came out and helped us inside. We were able to get inside safely and were seated in the court room.

I met with my lawyer as we sat waiting for the case to begin. Once everyone was seated, my father was brought out in cuffs to be seated for the case. The judge came out soon after. My phone buzzed against my leg, I pulled it out to see a text from Michael.

"Stay strong baby girl, I love you to the moon."

I smiled down at the text and quickly answered him.

"Thank you I love you to the moon and back babe."

Opening arguments had begun. I listened as my father's lawyer began speaking. "Ladies and gentleman of the jury, this girl is nothing but a whiny little brat. She complained about this game abuse for the attention. She's dating a famous band member for God's sake! This is all lies and there is nothing that she wants more than to be in the spot light longer."

I sat back and folded my arms over my chest. I shook my head. My lawyer put his arm against my chair. "Don't listen to him, it's a horrible argument." he whispered. I nodded my head as I began listening to him again. After moments of boredom, it was my lawyer's turn to speak. He stood up and fixed his jacket and tie.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this young woman has been brutally beaten and abused way before she met her boyfriend. This torture, has been apart of her for years. She has scars adorning her body. This man, this sorry excuse for man, should not be allowed to walk free."

After a few more statements, it was my turn to take the stand and testify. I stood up and straightened my dress before walking over to testify. I took my oath and sat down. My father's lawyer came up to me first.

"Miss Hewitt, have you ever angered your father so much that he would inflict physical contact?" He asked.

"No, I have never been a problem child. I was mostly self sufficient." I said.

"But what would cause him to lay a hand on you?" He asked.

"Well, after he and my mother were unable to have a second child, he would get drunk often. After getting drunk he would become extremely angry and take it out on me." I said.

He smirked at me as he went back to his table and grabbed his files. He walked back over and placed them in front of me. I looked down at them. It was a school file that was from a fight I had gotten into years ago.

"Miss Hewitt, can you tell me what this is?" He asked me.

"A school file from a fight I had gotten into when I was younger." I said.

"Interesting, so you said you were not a problem child." he said.

"I was wrongly accused. If you had done your research correctly you would have found that." I said crossing my arms over my chest.

"And how were you wrongly accused?" He asked.

"I was the one that broke up the fight." I said.

He nodded his head," So, how do you know that your father wasn't angry about that?"

"He can't be angry about me stopping a fight." I said.

"No further questions." he said and went to sit down next to my father. My lawyer stood up and walked over to me.

"Miss Hewitt, can you explain to the court when all this happened?" He asked.

"I was about 12, and my parents were trying to have another baby, expand our family. But they realized they weren't able to, so they began to drink, especially my father and when he got drunk, he would become extremely angry. It happened once, when it all started and I thought it was an accident..." Tears began spilling out of my eyes. I took a shaky breath before continuing. "It was a slap, I didn't really understand until it happened more often. Everyday it would become worse. It was never my face and I always wore something to cover them up. He used to drown me until I was unconscious. It kept getting worse and worse."

My lawyer nodded, as he walked over to the jury. "You hear that? She had no control over this monster of a man. Miss Hewitt, can you tell me what his abuse has caused you to do?" He asked me. I nodded.

"I began self-harming and I would get bullied at school. I have scars all over my arms from myself." I said wiping my eyes.

"Ladies and gentlemen, make the right decision, this man has been abusing this young woman for years. She has felt like she has no self worth anymore. Please, should this man really be able to walk out on our streets a free man?" He asked. The judge then spoke up.

"We will take a recess and let the jury decide." he said before knocking his gavel on his podium. I stood up and got off the stand. I walked back over to the table and grabbed my phone and walked out. I immediately called Michael. After a few rings he answered.

"Hello? Cassie how's it going?" He asked worry was evident in his voice.

"Well, the jury has to decide but my lawyer says that my father most likely will be going to prison for a long time." I sighed.

"How are you holding up? Are you okay?" He asked.

"I'm okay, a little shaken up but I'll be fine." I said leaning against the door.

"I'm very proud of you," he said. "I know this isn't easy for you."

"Thank you," I said.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too." I smiled.

"Alright, I have to go but call me as soon as they've made a decision okay?" he asked.

"Alright Clifford." I smiled.

"I love you Hewitt," he said.

"The last name thing is mine don't steal it." I giggled.

"Okay, okay."

"But I love you too, bye."

"Bye stay strong."