When He Saved Me

t h i r ty

"You won, babe!" Jules comes rushing to me, pulling me into a tight embrace, her excitement radiating through her entire being.

Tears of relief come streaming down my face, mingling with the overwhelming sense of accomplishment and exhaustion. "It's really over," I whisper, almost in disbelief.

Nicky, my rock through this entire ordeal, approaches next, wrapping me in a warm, supportive hug. "I'm so proud of you, love," she murmurs into my ear, her voice filled with genuine pride and affection.

Then comes Jake, his eyes shining with pride and joy. "Mads, you did it. I knew you could," he says, his voice steady and confident.

"Thank you for pushing me to do this, Jakey. I never would have been able to if it wasn't for you," I reply, smiling at him as I sink into his familiar hug. His encouragement had been my anchor, and I was grateful beyond words.

"You're a badass, babes," Brooke chimes in, grinning widely as she pulls me into a hug after Jake lets me go. Her energy is infectious, and I can't help but smile wider.

"I think this calls for a celebration," Ethan announces as we begin to make our way out of the courtroom, his voice filled with excitement and relief.

"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up," I say, turning around to go back inside. There's one more person I need to thank.

"You sure?" Jake asks, concern flickering in his eyes.

"Yeah, I have to thank Emily," I assure him.

He nods, and they continue towards the car, their laughter and chatter fading as they leave.

I make my way back into the courthouse, my footsteps echoing in the now quiet hallway. I see Emily gathering her things, the weight of the day's events visible on her face. When she sees me, she smiles warmly, a reflection of my own emotions.

"We did it," I say, my smile mirroring hers. The relief and joy in those words are palpable.

"You did it. I'm so proud of you," she responds, her voice filled with sincerity. Her support had been unwavering, her guidance invaluable.

"Thank you for everything," I say, my voice thick with emotion. "I couldn't have done it without you."

"Of course," she replies simply, her eyes shining with pride.

I turn to leave, but as I approach the doorway, I see Asher leaning against it, his familiar figure a comforting sight. Memories of our last fight flash through my mind, a painful reminder of the strain this trial had put on our relationship.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, trying to mask the surprise and the awkwardness that lingers between us.

"Waiting for you so I can walk you out," he says, his voice steady but his eyes avoiding mine.

"You didn't have to do that," I reply, touched yet cautious.

"I know," he says with a small smile, pushing off from the doorway and falling into step beside me.

As we walk out together, the reality of what has just happened begins to sink in. The burden that had consumed me the constant stress and uncertainty, it was all over. The weight that had been pressing down on me was finally lifting, replaced by a sense of triumph and freedom.

Outside, the sun is shining brightly, as if celebrating the victory with us. 

We make our way to a nearby restaurant. As we settle into our seats, Jules raises her glass, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "To Mads, the strongest person I know. You faced your fears and came out victorious. We're all so proud of you."