Stay

96

Colby and I walked up the court house steps in St.Cloud Minnesota hand in hand Colby carrying the carseat. We walked in and went through the metal detectors. We walked to the court room. I gasped seeing that so many people were here. It was Sam, Kat, Corey, Devyn, Elton, Ginger, Dakota, Tanner, Alex, Chelsea, Kris, Celina, Nate, Reggie, Cassie, Amber, Colby's Parents, Kristin, Jared, Spencer, Brent, Daneel, Leo, Tarae, Adella, and Quin.

We walked over to them. "Thank you all for coming." I said my voice breaking. We walked into the court room and sat. Colby to my left and Lesa to my right then Layne Sam Kat Corey and Devyn in the front row with us. Everyone else in the rows behind us. I looked down at the bond bracelet colby had gotten me. He had one too. I was worried about him not being able to comfort me during this so he bought these for us so he could tap his and it would vibrate mine letting me know I'm okay

I looked to the left across the aisle and tensed up seeing Elizabeth Kara and Avery. Lesa grabbed my hand and I looked over and she gave me a soft smile. I leaned my head on her and she wrapped her arm around me.

"All rise for the honorable judge Richards." The bailiff said. We stood and he walked in. He was intimidating. He was tall built tan with dark hair. "You may be seated he said. I sat down as the jury walked in and got settled.

I started to tremble when 2 officers walked Mark in. He was in a suit and hand cuffs. They got him sat by his lawyer. Phil our lawyer signaled for me to come up. I stood up and fixed my pencil skirt before slowly walking to the other side of the barrier and sitting next to Phil and the state prosecuter Will.

"Alright we are here for the case of the kidnapping torture and attempted murder of Marissa Peterson." Judge Richards said. I took a deep breath. "Alright the prosecution can start there open statements." Judge Richards said. Will stood up and walked to the middle of the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury let me start by saying thank you for your time. Now in order for everything to make sense we have to go back to the early 2000's. Now Marissa was adopted in 2002 by Mark and Elizabeth." Will said. The whole time will spoke explaining my past I dug my nails into my palms to keep myself from panicking

"Now Last November on thanksgiving day Marissa and her bf now fiancé Cole Brock were in Arizona celebrating with his parents. After dinner the two of them decided to talk a walk to end the night. Cole went inside to grab a jacket for Marissa and when he came back she was gone. in that short time that Cole was inside the defendant came up behind Marissa covered her mouth and forced her into the back of a car. Marissa fought back and struggled to no avail and during so her necklace snapped and was left behind on the sidewalk." Will said. I started to shake my legs.

I felt my bracelet vibrated giving me a bit of comfort and I took a deep breath. "Now Marissa was taken to a abandoned house a few towns over where she was essentially tortured and we will get into the details more as the trial goes on." Will said. He continued for a hour then finished and sat back down.

"Ok the defense may now share there opening statement." Judge Richards said. The defense painted this picture that I was a stalker and was threatening Mark and his family and that it was self defense. They continued this for a hour before they finished. "Alright Court is adjourned for a recess." Judge Richards said and banged the gavel.

I quickly walked out of the court room before everyone and made my way to the women's bathroom. I got to a stall and fell to my knee's and began to puke. Hot tears rolling down my cheeks. The door opened and I heard multiple pairs of feet.

"Okay your okay." I heard Kat say as she rubbed my back. "I will go tell Colby what's happening." I heard Quin say before she left. A minute Later I heard the door open. "Colby you can't go in there." I heard Corey say before the door shut and locked. Kat got up and Colby came and rubbed my back.