Loving Marianna

Chapter Fifty- Four

Warning: child abuse, violence, threats of rape

We walk into the courtroom and I instantly lock eyes with my mates. I look at them lovingly and they return the same gaze with sad eyes looking over my appearance. I see my mother sitting anxiously with them tears rolling down her face when she sees me.

We take a seat and wait for the judge enter. Once she takes her seat the bailiff speaks, "all rise" everyone rises, "department one of the Supreme Court is now in session. Judge Penelope presiding. Please be seated." Everyone sits.

"Good morning everybody. Calling the case of the People of New York versus Marianna Yanis. Are both sides ready?"

The DA confirms, "ready for the people, Your Honor."

Ms. Rhodes also confirms, "ready for the defense Your Honor."

"And how would the defense like to plead?" I stand and it's as if time freezes. Ms. Rhodes sends me a knowing look slightly shaking her head. I look over my shoulder and see my mom holding a tissue to her tear stained face.

"I plead not guilty."

"Will the clerk please swear in the jury?" The clerk swears the jury in and the trial begins. The U.S law and how things are executed have changed greatly thanks to technology. The judge calls me to the stand and I'm given a medicine before they shove wires in each of my ears and the last thing I hear before I fall into unconsciousness is, "it will only work if you're completely truthful. Open your mind to us."

My eyes shoot open and I'm at the park my mother would take me to as a child. I look around and see a younger her talking to Aaron. I trip over something backing away. I rub my head and sit up realizing I'm much smaller and a lot less strong. Panic floods through me as I realize I'm a child again.

"Just let it play out how it happened Marianna. We will know whether it is fabricated or not." I hear a voice say. The judge. I remember what I'm supposed to be doing and rise letting the tech take over and show what happened.

"Marianna, this is my boyfriend, Aaron." She smiles as Aaron holds out his hand. I shake it reserved as he looks at my arms face slightly pinching but quickly returning.

"Hi Marianna. I'm Aaron. I care about your mom very much and hope I can get to know you." I hide behind my moms legs and she laughs picking me up.

"Don't worry baby. Aaron is really nice. He makes mommy so happy." I nestle my head into her neck avoiding his gaze.

"I think she's just tired from running around." My mom says.

"I'm gonna take her home if you want to join us." My mom suggests flirty.

"I'd love to." Aaron answers.

My images and memories swirl and I'm now in me and my mothers old apartment.

I hear voices come from my mothers room.

"Are you sure you'll be okay watching her you never have before?" I hear my mothers muffled voice ask.

"Don't worry babe. We'll be okay. It'll be a good chance for me to grow on her and build a relationship." I move away from the door and run into my room throwing my little body on my bed burying my face in my Chewbacca stuffed animal muffling my cries. Once I stop I go to the bathroom and clean my face off and wait to say goodbye to my mother.

Once she leaves Aaron locks the door and chuckles with his back turned.

"What's it like knowing you were born an abomination?" He sneers turning around to see my reaction.

Even at 9 I know what he's talking about. It's not like I haven't been made fun of by kids at school, hear the adults whisper.

"I'm not an abomination, people like you are the abomination." I cross my arms and Aaron's nostrils flare as he rushes into my face close enough that I can smell his rancid breath.

"You stupid fucking bitch." I try to move my face out of his but he grips my hair and pulls me back. I let out a whimper.

"My momma will kill you." I scream thrashing my body around trying to get out of his grip.

"Your momma" he says mockingly, "will never find out unless you want me to take a spoon out of the kitchen, gauge out her eyes and flush them down the toilet with the shit and piss before I tie you up and make you watch as I fuck her until she bleeds out." He laughs.

My body grows cold and I feel instantly sick. I throw up on him and he throws me to the ground delivering a kick to my stomach. I curl into a ball throwing up again on the floor.

"Clean up your mess bitch." I weakly move to get the mop but Aaron stops me pulling me to the floor again and pushing my head towards my throw up. I shake my head no as tears form in my eyes and he forces my head into my puke. He holds me there until I can't breathe so I start eating tears rolling down my face gagging over and over trying not to throw up more as Aaron finally lets me up for breath. I only have this moment of relief before he shoves my head back down. The room and memory swirl away leaving me in our kitchen music blasting my mother dancing around making breakfast. I'm slightly taller now and my hair is a bit longer.

"Please let me cook the eggs mom! I do it all the time when you're not home!" She shoots a glare to Aaron who chuckles.

"She wanted to learn babe." He shoots me a glare once she turns around. True, I wanted to learn but I was forced to cook for myself or starve when she was away.

"Okay baby show me what you got!" My mother says. We continue cooking together.

A love song comes on and Aaron moves behind my mother dancing.

When he turns with her I see a knife almost pressed to her back. I look up at him angry and wide eyed.

He mouths something to me and I bite the inside of my cheek steeling myself for what comes next. I flatten my hand against the searing hot pan.

Everything stops as my eyes shoot open and I'm in the court room again screaming, crying and thrashing around. I rip the wires out my ears and grip the wood in front of me trying to breathe.

Instead of being scolded the judge looks at me gently.

"Recess." The judge orders smacking the gavel. I'm taken out of the room basically being carried my legs weak with fear. I'm brought into the same room as before and Ms. Rhoades comes in with water and crackers. I drink the water but can't get myself to eat.

"You're doing amazing honey. I know this is hard but I'm glad you didn't plead guilty to save your mother. I think it's going to work out best for everyone this way." She says kindly.

"I hope so." I whisper.