Just a week later, my parents and I are all back in the lawyer's office and we're sitting across from the lead counsel Walter as well as Natalie and Lindsay.
"There's a few precedent-setting cases that we're gonna use, one of which being Jane Doe v Taylor School District," Natalie notifies my parents, showing them a copy of the first page of a case from the 90s. I glance at the paper, not understanding much of what's on it, but glimpsing the words "freshman" and "sexually molested by biology teacher". I shiver and look away, wrapping my arms around myself.
"Mainly, that case and ours relied on the fourteenth amendments clauses of due process and equal protection...specifically because she's a minor...this should be a slam dunk," Walter smirks up at my parents and I have to hold myself back from rolling my eyes.
I've tuned out most of the conversation until Lindsay turns it on me, notifying me of their plan to sue not just the school for neglect but Lily as well.
"We're going to sue them Iris, we're gonna make a lot of money," I flinch at her words, unable to look up at the presumably excited expressions on both my parents' faces.
"I don't want money from them, they've lost enough already," I mumble, my gaze fixed on the ground. Lindsay sighs deeply from her seat across from us as my mom clutches my hand in hers.
"Yes, they have. But you don't understand, he owes you reparations and they need to make it-"
"We're not suing them," I snap, finally meeting her surprised gaze, "Not them," I glance over to see my dad emotionless but my mom is holding back tears, a proud look in her eye as she rubs the back of my hand. I have to look away, the emotion in her eyes too intense.
"Sweetie, you don't underst-"
"I think she understands perfectly, Lindsay," My mom cuts in, putting an end to this foolish line of thinking, "We're gonna get enough money from the school. More money than we would even know what to do with. Why not just stop there?" Her mouth relaxes into a straight line and I silently thank my mom for having my back on this one.
"Okay. That's perfectly okay. Whatever you want, Iris. I don't want to pressure you into anything," She reaches across the desk, clutching my other hand, "Never again, right?" I nod silently.
I reach for my belly for comfort as the conversation moves past me and my eyes wander to the window.
When we're leaving, Natalie asks to talk to me in private as she pulls me to the side of the hallway as everyone else says their goodbyes.
"I just wanted you to know that what you want here is the most important and we'll do whatever possible to make sure you're comfortable with everything that's happening," She affirms as she nods at me, her voice soft and her eyes kind.
"I just feel...it feels wrong to sue the school when what happened was my choice. I wanted the relationship," Natalie thinks over what I'm saying as she bites her lip. "I wanted him," I glance over tentatively to see if my mom and dad can hear but they're too busy being blown away by whatever Walter and Lindsay are promising them.
"You are in therapy, right?" She asks and my shoulders slouch slightly as I nod. Classic. Like everyone else, shove my questions off to the expert.
I start to walk away, but she stops me before I can.
"I...I had something similar happen to me, Iris," Her voice is incredibly small and vulnerable, not at all how I expect any attorney to sound.
"You did?" I can't help my intrigue. She nods, her eyes on the ground before meeting mine confidently.
"What Michael did to you...I know right now it feelsl like the end of the world. I know right now it feels like you'll never love again or move past him," She takes a step closer to me and I feel that familiar lump rising in my throat. No one has ever related to me in this way and I can see right through her pain to whenever she went through this. Almost like her younger self is the one talking to me right now, not this 30+ year old standing in front of me, "But you will. I promise you, you will,"
YOU ARE READING
Stolen Innocence (Evergreen) [Student/Teacher Love Story]
Romance❝i knew i had fallen in love with Lolita forever; but i also knew she would not be forever Lolita,❞ ⚭⚭⚭ A love like none other. She was young, innocent, and kind. But, she met him, and she was ruined. TW: this story contains mentions of depression...