Shore Leave

Actions, meet Consequences

Mia was glad that Ailis wasn't trying to talk her out of testifying. It had been about a month after Mia got her memories back when the trial was in full swing. Colt asked that the two of them finish last after Mors recorded statement was played. That was the compromise that they settled on since they both didn't want him on the stand. Ailis' testimony was a little rough, they dug up her juvie record and the sting that finally put both her parents away. Ailis took it all in stride, answering the questions calmly and calling out the defense attorney whenever he was obviously trying to just throw doubt on her character instead of investigating anything. Finally it was Mia's turn to take the stand, the bailiff led her over.

"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" She asked, putting Mia's hand on the Bible.

"So help me god," Mia recited then got comfortable in the chair. Colt stood up and came over, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Mia, in your own words can you tell us what happened on the afternoon of October 27th?" He asked. Mia collected her thoughts. That day was still really fuzzy, but Mors and Ailis were able to fill her in.

"That day- it was any other day. I went to work, kissed my wife goodbye knowing that she'd be dropping our son, Mors off at school. Then when I came home, we had the house to ourselves since Mors stayed at school, one of his friends is on the basketball team. All of us were at the game together, sitting with the other parents and then we started heading home. We all buckled up- and that's the last thing I remember before waking up in a hospital, more confused than I'd ever been my whole life," Mia promised herself she wouldn't cry, but she heard her voice crack a little towards the end.

"And this confusion was due to the car accident, correct? From which you suffered head trauma, some broken ribs, and severe memory loss?" He asked.

"That is correct," she agreed. Colt nodded at her.

"Kind folks of the jury, I don't think I need to say all that much here," he stated. "Mia Saros' suffering speaks for itself. She's still trying to recover from the physical effects of this accident, and from her head injury she suffered even more as she lost twenty years of memories, unable to recognize her wife and teenage son, who's testimony we saw earlier. Mrs. Saros, would you say this event and the time thereafter was traumatizing for you?" He asked.

"Extremely so. Not only was I in an accident that I had no idea that I was in, but at the time- I had this expectant stranger looking at me when I woke up."

"And who was this stranger?" He asked. "I know it's not fun to relive, but if you could let us know?"

"At the time- my wife, Ailis, she was a complete stranger to me. As everyone here is seeing her for the first time, that's how I saw her when I woke up."

"And how long were you stuck in this state? No memories of your loving wife or precious son? No idea of who your family and friends were, no recognition of your own home?" Colt gave her a sympathetic look as he asked. She's been warned that he'd be playing up the emotional aspect to hammer home their feelings to the jury.

"Thirty-four days. I spent thirty-four days trapped in the mind of my twenty-one year old self. Not knowing who anyone was, not knowing why I cut off my parents. Not knowing my son who I raised alone for the first six years of his life because Ailis was unavailable. He needed his mom and I wasn't there," she wiped her face, the tears were starting a little.

"And how does it make you feel to know that all that pain, all of that confusion and suffering, was caused by a man who was so drunk at the time that he didn't even remember getting into his vehicle?"