Eating For Two

Chapter 14.

They didn't deserve to see fear in her eyes, not after everything they had put her through. Zoe could sense the determination emanating from Lucy, as if she was drawing a protective shield around herself and her baby.

As Lucy took her seat, she took a deep breath, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge of the stand. She stared directly at her attackers, her expression a mixture of defiance and disgust. Zoes hand shook violently.

She knew this would be one of the hardest days of Lucy's life, but she also knew that her daughter was stronger than anyone could imagine. She would face these monsters head-on, refusing to let them take anything else from her. And together, they would make sure that justice was served.

As Lucy settled into her seat, the courtroom fell silent, every pair of eyes locked on her. The judge, a stern woman with a no-nonsense attitude, looked down at Lucy over her wire-rimmed glasses. "Miss anderson," she began, her voice softening slightly.

"Would you like to make a statement?" Lucy took a deep breath, her chest heaving with the effort. She glanced briefly at Zoe and Angela, drawing strength from their supportive expressions. Then, she turned her attention to the two men who had changed her life forever.

Chris and Elijah shifted uncomfortably in their seats, avoiding her gaze. With a steady voice, Lucy began to recount the events of that terrible night, her words piercing the silence like a knife.

She spoke of the pain, the fear, and the violation she had endured, each syllable laced with anger and sadness. But she also spoke of hope, of the little girl growing inside her who gave her the courage to stand here today. Her voice trembled, but she refused to break.

This was her moment to reclaim control, to make sure they knew the depth of the damage they had caused.

She took a deep breathe before standing tall and looking the two boys who violated her in the worst way - in the eyes.

"I did not choose to be raped. Yes, I was reckless and yes I consumed too much alcohol. But that does not mean I asked for it. If you don't convict Chris and Elijah today.. Well then you're saying I deserved it. You're saying that other girls and boys that have experienced it also deserved it. And they don't and neither did i. I do not want to live in a world where people like them get to walk around with no consequences, if they did it to me so easily, who is to say they won't do it again and again. People like them are the reason that parents have to warn and teach their daughters and sons about rapists, and spiking drinks and consent. So I'm asking you please, to consider what the world would be like with fewer people like them."

As Lucy spoke her truth, her voice rang out clear and powerful, cutting through the heavy silence in the courtroom. Each word was a testament to her strength and courage, echoing off the cold stone walls.

Chris and Elijah squirmed in their seats, unable to meet her gaze as she held them accountable for their monstrous actions. Zoe and Angela sat behind her, their hands tightly clasped, tears streaming down their faces.

They were in awe of Lucy's bravery, her ability to stand tall despite the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders. The judge listened intently, her expression unreadable as Lucy spoke of the pain, the fear, and the anger that had become her constant companions since that night.

As Lucy finished her statement, there was a collective intake of breath from the spectators. Even the lawyers seemed moved by her words, their faces reflecting the gravity of the situation. Lucy's voice shook slightly, but she held her head high, her eyes never leaving the judge's. "Please," she implored, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Make sure my daughter grows up in a world where people like them are held accountable." Zoe could feel Lucy's body trembling with emotion, and she silently vowed to stand by her side no matter what the verdict might be.

When she finished, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. The judge looked at Lucy with a mixture of admiration and sadness. "Thank you, Miss Anderson," she said gently. "Your bravery is commendable."

Lucy's heart pounded in her chest as the judge announced the jury's return. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath and sending up a silent prayer. When she opened them again, she found herself fixated on the jury box, eight people who held the fate of her attackers in their hands.

Each juror stood, their faces solemn as they looked at Lucy, then at Chris and Elijah. The courtroom was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, everyone waiting with bated breath for the verdict. The tension was palpable, like a thick fog that threatened to suffocate them all. Lucy's hands tightened around her crutches, her knuckles turning white.

She refused to let herself hope for the best - she had been let down so many times before. Instead, she focused on the gentle kicking of her baby girl, reminding herself that no matter what happened here today, she was a survivor. She had already won the biggest battle - she was bringing life into this world, a life that would be loved and cherished despite its tumultuous beginnings.

As the foreman read out the verdicts - guilty on all counts - Lucy felt a wave of relief wash over her. It wasn't triumph, but rather a small victory in a war that would continue to rage on long after today. But for now, she allowed herself a moment of peace, knowing that justice had prevailed and that Chris and Elijah would pay for what they had done.

She turned to look at Zoe and Angela, tears streaming down their faces, and managed a small, grateful smile. They had done it together. Her auntie and her mom and her daughter was her rock.

As the officers approached Chris and Elijah, handcuffs clicking ominously in the hushed courtroom, Lucy couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. It wasn't vengeance she craved, but accountability - and they would finally face the consequences of their actions.

Their expressions were a mix of disbelief and rage, their eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. But there was none to be found. As they were led away, Lucy kept her gaze locked on them, her heart pounding in her chest. She refused to let them see her cry, refused to give them the satisfaction of knowing they still had power over her.

Instead, she thought of the tiny life growing inside her, a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of darkness. *They may have taken so much from me,* she thought fiercely, *but they will never take my spirit.* She turned to Zoe and Angela, tears streaming down her cheeks, and whispered, "It's over." They wrapped her in a tight embrace, the three of them swaying together as they sobbed with relief and exhaustion.

It was a bittersweet moment, but one that marked the beginning of a new chapter for Lucy - a chapter where she was no longer a victim, but a survivor, a warrior, and a soon-to-be mother.

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