Home Is With You

44 • Frazzled

My nerves were frazzled. My stomach in knots. My skin was pale. I was a mess. Meeting Homer in the car I silently nod to myself. Feeling Homer's hand turning my head I look at him.

"I got you. Everything is going how it's suppose to. I love you. And at the end of the day, this guy is going to jail. I'll make sure of it." He said pressing a kiss to my temple. Releasing a breath, I murmur, "It's okay."

"Let's get back to court." He whispered. Starting the car, we quickly get to the court taking our seats once more. As everyone entered the courtroom once more I felt someone looking at me intensely. I felt my skin crawl. Scooting my chair closer to Homer, I release a breath once court starts back up.

"Call your next witness." Judge Mackins stated. "Your honor, I call Jerry Moore to the stand." Max said raising his head from his paper work. Watching as Jerry is sworn in, before taking a seat. "Mr. Moore how long have you known my client and Mr. Simmons?" Max asked. "I was in the air force with them. So give or take about two decades." Jerry said glancing my way.

"Did Mr. Gorman ever come to you and ask for help while he was with the plaintiff?"

"No."

"Did you think he was in a abusive relationship with Mr. Simmons?"

"I don't think. I know. When they first got together everything seemed fine. But a couple months later, I noticed bruises." He replied with a even tone. "Bruises such as what. You all were in the air force, couldn't bruises have come from training." Max asked turning around facing the jury.

"These weren't any kind of bruises. I came from a abusive home I know what comes from training. Training give you sore and achy muscles, light bruising. There were bruises around his wrist,bruising on his cheeks, fractured jaw, crack ribs. I brought Jeremy to the ER numerous times." Jerry said making me glance down.

"No further questions." Max smiled as he limped to his seat. "Are you okay?" I whisper. "It's okay. I have my cane with me." Max whispered as he signaled someone over who gave him his cane.

"Mr. Moore you said that you knew for a fact that the defendant was being abused. If you knew why didn't you step forward?" Ms. Vargas proclaimed. "Because in many cases, when someone come forth and says my friend is being abused. The victim in most cases get injured or worse killed but I'm no doctor." Jerry said as he clasped his hands.

"So in other words, you felt like telling somebody would have endangered him. If this is your friend, your brother in arms couldn't you of told someone, anyone for that matter. But instead like a coward you watched your friend get abused. Beaten down." Ms. Vargas said practically yelling at Jerry making me flinch.

"It's not like that! You can't push someone in that kind of situation. You can't force someone to see that their partner is detrimental to their well being! Besides no one would listen." Jerry seethed.

Grabbing Homer's hand, "Do you believe that the plaintiff tried to maliciously harm the defendant? It's a yes or a no?" Ms. Vargas stated. "Yes." Jerry gritted out.

"Your witness." She said. "Mr. Moore, you said that no one would listen. Did you tell someone?" Max asked. "Yes. I told the head officer at the time. When he brushed me off, I went to the other recruits. They all acted like they heard or saw nothing. I was Jeremy's only ally back then." Jerry said.

"So it remains to reason, that you care about him. When you took my client to the ER, did the doctors or physicians ever make reports of domestic abuse?" Max asked. "At first they did. They even took pictures but the ER was burned down with everything in it. To everyone else it was accidental but it looked like arson." Jerry said glaring at him.

"How could you tell? You yourself are not a firefighter. So how could you tell?"  Max asked. "The men in my family were all firefighters. They would tell me stories about things they saw. So I deduced it from that." Jerry said. "So what were the signs that you seen?" Max questioned as a picture of the aftermath was shown on the plasma.

"The volunteers said there were no points of origin. But if you look closely, the ashes are dispersed from one point. Meaning that someone had to gather flammable items such as paper, set it on  fire and left. He had motive." Jerry stated as he sat straighter.

"Please share with the court." Max said. "The most scary thing about a abuser. It's how cunning and smart they are. Mr. Simmons always hit Jeremy where he could hide it or seemed like it came from training. I full heartedly believe when he found out I was taking Jeremy to the ER. Knowing they would keep evidence, he went in when no one was suspecting and started a fire destroying all evidence." Jerry shared.

"Thank you for your time. No further questions."  Max said as Jerry stepped down.

Squeezing Homer's hand watch as they start pulling out the plasma so everyone can see. Along with a table that evidence bags layed on.

"It'll be okay. Don't worry." Homer whispered as they called me to the stand. Getting sworn in I sigh as I start to fidget with my hands. "Before we call our next witness the pictures and videos the court will see are graphic and upsetting." Judge Mackins stated to the court. Writing a quick note I slide it to Homer before I'm called to the witness stand.

Laying my hand on the Bible I'm sworn in. Glancing at Homer, I nod as I let loose a sigh, calming my nerves.