Silent Secrets ||A Byler Story||

Chapter twelve

TRIGGER WARNING: SA/RAPE WILL BE MENTIONED IN THIS CHAPTER.

***

The day of the trail was finally here.

Will was a nervous wreck and refused to leave his room until they left for the trail.  He couldn't stop crying.  He kept overthinking, and the nightmare he had last night only made things worse.  Of course Mike stayed with him the whole time.  Hugging him, reassuring him, comforting him. 

Joyce was also a nervous wreck.  She blamed herself for everything that was happening to herself and to her family.  She knew that Lonnie would kill them as soon as he got a chance to.  She knew it wasn't simple to just leave and that's what made the situation so much worse.

Jonathan sat in his own room looking into the mirror trying to tie his tie around his neck.  After many failed attempts, he decided to just not wear one.  He was more angry then nervous.  But then again, that's how he always has been.

Although he wasn't in the family, Mike was also scared for them.  He knew how bad it must have been for them and he didn't want them to have to go back to that life.  Especially knowing now how bad it was.

None of them had ate breakfast.  None of them wanted to.  They all got ready on their own.  Mike didn't really have anything nice to wear, so Jonathan let him barrow a white t-shirt and an black overcoat and Will gave him a pair of jeans. 

There was a knock on Wills door, causing Will to jump.  The door opened and it was just Jonathan.

"Time to go."  He says softly.  Will nodded and wiped his face on his sleeve again.  He was wearing a suit that his mother had bought for him at the start of the week.  Jonathan was wearing one of his old suits.

Jonathan shut the door and Will took a deep breath.

"Okay.  Let's go."  Will says quietly standing up. 

The two boys went out into the living room and slipped on their shoes.  They heard Jonathan and Joyce talking in her room but the car was on so they decided to wait in the car.

A few minutes later the two of them walk out and get into the car.

Joyce pulls out of the driveway and starts the drive to downtown.

"Listen, we all know that if you're father comes back, it will be worse than before."  Joyce says quietly.

Both Jonathan and Will nodded their heads.

"Just...try not to be home often."  Joyce sighs.

The rest of the ride was quiet.  Will's heart started racing once they parked.  He tried his hardest not to cry as they got out of the car. 

"Just try to stay calm."  Joyce tells her sons.  The lawyer had promised Joyce and Will that he wouldn't have to speak today which Will was grateful for.

They walked into the medium sized building and found room 201 which was on the second floor.  They walked in and found Mr. Lee going through some papers.

"Ah!  You're here.  Perfect.  Come sit down."  The four of them sat down, "Michael you're here, perfect."

"So, how exactly will this go?"  Joyce asks in a strained voice.

The lawyer explains that first Lonnie will stand up and present his case, then they would have a turn to present their case.  It would most likely go back and forth for a little bit and then the jury would make a decision.

The clock chimed a little later, Indicating that it was noon.  Wills heart skipped a beat and his breath quickened.  It hit him like a ton of bricks that he would really have to see his father again.