Devils and Angels (GG Reboot)

Chapter 40

"You look beautiful." 

"Really? Are you sure she looks alright?" 

"Of course. She looks like a virginal princess which is exactly what we want."

 "Virginal princess?"

 "Just ignore her. It's lawyer lingo." 

"We have prepared you for this. You will be fine, just go in there and hold your head up high."

 "Shed a few tears when/if he come on the defense stand." 

"And definitely bring on the water works for when you go on the stand." 

"Today will be just fine, believe, that's all folks."

 "Oh, we believe. That bastard is gonna lose this case." 

"That's the spirit everyone." 

The noise continues. 

On and on. 

On and on. 

And on and on.

 It is easy to get lost in it. 

Pretend I'm not here. 

That I'm somewhere so far away. 

Where nobody knows who I am or what has been done to me. 

Or what I have done to others.

 Wishful thinking but it helps. 

At least that's what I tell myself. 

I haven't slept a full night's worth of rest in about two weeks. 

Every time I try to close my eyes flashes of Luke come back. 

From the happy moments to one that ended it all. 

My old tricks like drawing or reading didn't work. 

I would always end up just lying there, staring at the ceiling. 

Counting sheep while praying I didn't weep. 

I'm gonna have to see him today. 

Face to face. 

And if I look like some 'virginal princess', Christ. 

Then he's bound to look like some innocent dweeb who's never seen boobs, not even on T.V. 

The whole thing makes me sick.

 How could I have ever liked this man? 

How could I have willing entered a relationship with him? 

There had to have been another way to protect Whitney.

 Why couldn't I have thought of another way?

 If I had, then this. 

None of this would have happened and I would- 

"Willow." 

And I would ha-

"Willow, listen to me." 

I would have – 

"Willow, honey." 

I would have l- 

"Willow!" the sound of Lisa yelling my name finally brings me out of my thoughts.

 "Don't yell at her." I hear Whitney snap at her. 

"Sorry, I was just trying to get your attention. We all were." Lisa looks at me apologetically. 

I nod my head at this.