Home Is With You

45 • Trigger Warning

Homer's pov

Watching Jeremy take the stand I feel guilty, he shouldn't be testifying at all. But without his solid testimony we can't prove the pattern of the crimes.

Watching as Max approached Jeremy with a slight limp and a cane. "Mr. Gorman please tell the court your side of what happened all those years ago." Max said as he stepped away from the podium.

"Well in 1992 I decided to join the air force. When I first arrived I had met Mr. Simmons since we were bunk mates. He was very charismatic and charming so we hit it off. At first everything was good, sure there red flags that I ignored. But two months into our relationship he started getting physical and verbally violent. I was resilient the first few weeks but after a while it started getting to me. When I tried to leave the first three times he either beat me into submission, manipulated me, or used blackmail. So I was forced to stay with him for two years. From 18 to 20 I endured beatings, rape, gang rape, broken bones, being called nothing almost everyday. A physical and mental breakdown." Jeremy shared his voice unwavering as he spoke.

"When you said there were signs, what do you mean by that?" Max asked. "Like when I had befriended Jerry. At first I thought it was pure jealousy. But he didn't even want to let me out his sight without getting mad. Then when I tried to be independent. He would stop me from doing things. Making me feel like I needed him. Then he started isolating me from my peers. Not letting me make calls to my mother, not talking to Jerry, not letting me talk to anybody really. He made it so I only had him." Jeremy shared glancing my way.

"What made you ignore the signs?" Max asked. "I had just lost my father so I was very vulnerable. But everytime something happened or I spoke about it. I would get the same excuses everytime. That he would change, he would do better, he was sorry. But eventually he stopped with the excuses and said I deserved it." Jeremy said staring straight at Max.

"You said that you tried to leave Mr. Simmons on multiple attempts. What was one of the ways you tried to leave him?" Max asked. "The first time I went to the sergeant to try to change rooms. The second time I tried to go AWOL but I couldn't bring myself to do it. The third time I tried switching from the Air Force to the Marines." Jeremy said as he looked around the court room.

"Mr. Gorman I've noticed that you never referred to the defendant by his last name. Why is that?" Max questioned. "When we first got together he told me to refer to him as 'him'. So I never really knew his name. I didn't know his actual name til about a month or so ago." Jeremy said.

"Mr. Gorman you had mentioned that you were gang raped. Did the assailants ever record or take pictures?" Max asked. "Yes they did. Most times they would blindfold and gag me so I wouldn't make as much noise." Jeremy sighs looking down.

"These images and videos were collected in a search of the defendant's house. Does this image look familiar to you?" Max asked as a image was amplified  on the plasma. I clenched my fists as I looked at a younger version of Jeremy blindfolded, a rag shoved in his mouth, his cheeks covered in tears, as he was pinned to the floor naked. His arms stretched above him tied together. I looked down at the table as I heard collective gasps around the court.

"S-sorry....um that picture was one of the times I was first gang raped. I had gave consent to the defendant  but I didn't give it to three of the defendant's friends." Jeremy mumbled as he sniffled.  "Now Mr. Gorman can you describe to the court what a evening was like with the defendant " Max stated as he took a quick glare at Simmons.

"Most nights I would get back before him. So he would want me on the floor sitting quietly. When he came back he would hit me unprovoked then he would initiate sex. When I refused I was raped. But with the abuse my libido was always low so I was raped most nights to the point I began expecting it. He would use racial slurs, name calling, even choking me to the point of unconsciousness at times." Jeremy said as the bailiff handed him a box of tissues.

"Did it sound anything like this?" Max asked as he played a recording. I could hear muffled screams and sobbing followed by the sound of grunting and slaps. "Aww, look the little....is crying." "Should we hang him? Sound fun, right monkey boy?" "Your nothing but a cock slut, aren't you. This is what your kind is good for." It continued on for five more minutes like that multiple saying nasty things.

Looking at Jeremy who had tears streaming down his face I wanted to hold him tight in my arms. He shouldn't have to relive this. I wanted to kiss him, make love to him, tell him how special he is. Tell him how much I admire and love him. But not being able to do that infuriated me to no end.

Cutting off the recording, Max looked at Jeremy who was wiping his face. "Yeah, it sounded exactly like that." Jeremy sniffled chuckling humorlessly.

"You may take your seat Mr. Gorman I will end court here for today. Have a good day everyone." Judge Mackins spoke as Jeremy sat beside me looking down. Judge Mackins hit her gavel dismissing the court room. Quickly I usher Jeremy to the car, hoping to help him de-stress for today.