thanatophobia • jordan poole

prologue: the quiet before the storm

RobynJo
My slim fingers punch the pinch the bridge of my nose as I sat on the witness stand. Today is packed...I would say even more packed than yesterday. All I could focus on where the sad looks on people's faces, the news camera, and the sketch person who's been depicted this entire trial...I just hope he's making me look good. I tend to do this all the time...zone out. During a time like this it's beneficial so then I won't have to be reminded to the pain and hurt I've experienced for the past couple of months.

"Miss. Avery!"

I snap my head towards the idiotic lawyer who's been questioning me for the past fifteen minutes. Looking out to the audience I see my dad sitting not too far away with a look of concern painted on his face. My lips slightly turn up to assure him that I'm fine.

"I'm sorry what was your question again?"

"What were you doing the night of September 17th?"

"I was over at a friend's house with some of our other friends. We had a physics exam coming up and we wanted to study for it."

"Ok what hour was it that you came back home?"

"It was a little after midnight I would say. My dad was working his shift at the hospital and I knew my mom wouldn't trip about me being a few minutes late after my curfew."

"You would say? You don't remember?"

"In all honesty sir we are in the month of February right now so things are kind of a hazzy right now."

"I'm just saying it was a pretty traumatic night for you...if it was me I would remember the night I found my mother's lifeless body."

"Objection he's badgering the witness!"

"Overruled you can answer the question Miss. Avery."

I look back at the snobby lawyer giving him a death glare.

"It was exactly 12:04 when I got home...I didn't find my mother's body until 12:14 you know I had to stop and get a snack and assumed she was asleep. I called the police soon after that."

"Ok when you were questioned at the station, you said you saw Mr. Bridger exit your house as your friends were dropping you off is that correct?"

"Yea sir", I rub my temples.

"Are you sure it was Mr. Bridger or someone who looked like him?"

I look over at the defendants table to see him dressed up nicely with glasses that probably aren't even medicated. His face held a cold and hard stare but deep down inside I knew he was scared. He's scared of the consequences for what he has done.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm just inquiring that you were studying at a friends house that could be pretty tiring am I right?"

"Yeah but I knew what I saw. I saw Aiden on the front porch and he had blood on his jacket."

"No you saw someone leave wearing that coat the same someone who later planted it in his car."

Out of reflex I break down and cover my ears not listening to anything else coming out of that man's mouth. I know what I saw and who I saw and I could never delete those images out of my mind. Aiden Bridger raped and murdered my mother and can nothing make me change that.

words from micaiah
Hey guys so I wrote this book a long time ago and deleted it. Now I'm brining it back! I hope you all like it I know it's something different. I hope you guys like it♥️