HIS HEART

Ch:29 The Trial

I'm standing outside the glass room. I feel so... blank. I don't know what to feel. Should I feel happy? Or should I feel sad?

I know who I am. But who am I without her?

Why am I sympathizing with a cold-blooded murderer? She did it all. I try to convince myself that she's nothing to me anymore but I can't bring myself to do so. Defeated, I sit down and wait for Tara's hearing.

The door opens and Tara walks in. Her eyes search amongst the crowd. They meet mine and despite everything, I find that I still can't believe she is guilty.

She is led in front of the court into the cage-like structure and is closely monitored by a bodyguard.

'Silence in the Courtroom!'.

I hear an announcement and the hearing starts. The justice starts talking about the crime and a hand is pointed in my direction. I was the victim of her fraud. My identity had been stolen. I had been taken advantage of. Heads turn in my direction and I hide my face. It's just me. I try to avoid the onlookers. 

A part of me wants the whole court to disappear and her to come back to me.

Tara is looking at me, her eyes are shining with tears but she seems steady. Ready to accept her fate. I put my hand in my heads. I can't watch this. The juries are firing questions at her. She answers immediately. When people ask her for the motive behind the attack, however, she stutters. She shakes her head, "I can't answer that."

I close my eyes. Why Tara? Why would you of all people do that?

She seems to understand me and her voice falters as the questioning becomes more and more tense. An hour passes and I feel sick... There is a banging of a gavel to silence everyone and call attention to the hearing.

The judges circle Tara, like a bunch of vultures waiting to scavenge on a piece of meat. I try to get the image out of my head.

"Do you, Tara, accept that you are guilty?"

"Yes." 

"The case is closed."

She waves at me and gives me a small smile. I see her mouth 'Bye'. I can't help it, tears stream down my face as they take her away. My vision is blurred and I see a moving red dot, her t-shirt as she disappears out of sight. Why did she do it?

As I half-stumble, half-walk out of the courtroom, my phone rings.

"Roger?"

I hear Tara's voice. "This is the last phone call I'm allowed to make. I won't be able to see you again."

"Tara... No..." I start to argue. She shushes me.

"Roger, I'm on a time crunch. I just wanted to tell you something. I love you, Roger, I always had. You were my best friend, always there for me."

I start to tremble. "Tara..."

"Shhh... From the beginning, from the time we met, I loved you. Your personality, your green eyes, your lopsided smile. And I told you I'd do anything for you."

My green eyes?

"What?"

"Roger, I didn't break our promise."

"What? Tara-"

"I've saved you."

The phone call ends abruptly.