Bound by Love

Cassian

It was time for my trial.

A policeman with a short, stubby body, thin brown hair, with a bald patch on the top of his head, and a loose uniform, had taken me to the courtroom.

People filled the seats, short and tall, chubby and thin, men and women.

They all watched me, I spotted my mum, brother, his wife, my little sister, and my little brother.

She watched me in disapproval and shame as the police officer led me to my seat.

A tear rolled down my face as I sat in a chair next to Lawerance.

He nudged me. "Hey Cassian, how are you holding up?"

I shrugged, whipping the tear from my face. "Fine I guess."

"All you gotta do is tell the truth, not that hard, right? "

I nodded. "Not hard, but what if they say I'm guilty?"

Lawrence looked deep into my eyes. "Did you kill her?"

I shook my head so hard that I was afraid it might fall off. "No, of course not!"

"Good, but they shouldn't have enough hard evidence, the worst thing would be prison. So I wouldn't worry about it."

I blinked. "Excuse me? Not worried?"

He nodded. "Of course not because you have a good heart, and the judge will -hopefully- see that." He smiled brightly.

I stared at him with a deadly stare. "Not funny Lawrence."

Now that I think about it, I could go to prison, or even worse, get the death penalty.

Lawrence released and took me by the shoulders, looked into my eyes and said.

"You have to be strong if you wanna get out of here with your life. You understand Cassian?"

I nodded. "Yes."

The judge banged his gavel. "Please rise for the trial of Cassian Tio."

I inhaled sharply at the sound of my name coming out of the judges voice.

Everyone inside the small room stood to their feet, listening to the judge.

I could feel my mum's burning stare on me, she was so disappointed in me.

"You may be seated." The judge said, sitting down.

The judge was Mr. Walsh, he was in interviews on the news all the time.

"Cassian Tio has been charged with murder of 19-year old Kit Amsten, what is your evidence, Prosecutor attorney?"

He asked the women behind the wooden table in front of the neat chaired rows.

She stood with elegance, her black skin shining against the light, she had her hair in a large braid along her sloched back.

"I have evidence of her walking, alone, in all black clothing, in the dark, away from the victims apartment. She was arrested by officer Abney, she did not resist, but she would not quit asking questions about the victim, which was suspicious." She said with a deep voice.

The judge nodded slowly. "Okay, so what do you have against that Attorney Lawerance?"

Lawrence stood and took a deep breath before letting a handful of words come out of his mouth. "Judge Walsh, Cassian had been on her way home from work, officers even asked the other employees, she works at Derek's Diner, and where she was when Officer Abney found her she was a block away from there, about 3 minutes."

I nodded in agreement, watching what the judge would say.

He stared at Lawrence for a moment before speaking.

"Well that's not enough to prove she's not guilty, and there's more evidence of her committing the crime than not," he turned his eyes to me with apologetic eyes. "But I do not want to give her the death penalty, so Cassian Tio, you have been charged with murder and as of now are sentenced to prison for 10 years. They officers will have more details, just ask." He banged his gavel and I sat there with astonishment.

Prison? I knew that I would go to jail, but never prison, especially for murder that I didn't commit.

"Cassian? Are you alright? Cassian!" Lawrence yelled, I'm guessing he's been yelling for a while.

People were walking out, among them my mother.

Then I saw Carlo, my big brother.

I stood up and rushed to say, "I didn't do it Carlo, I promise!"

He stared at me, he wasn't sure.

I stared back with hurt, I thought he was the one who would stand up for me, he always had when we were kids, like the time when my bully Diego wouldn't leave me alone, Carlo punched him so hard it knocked a tooth out.

But here we are, and he doesn't believe me.

"Y-you're the one who believes me, and here you are thinking, me your little sister, that I killed somebody." I scoffed.

"Goodbye Carlo." I said as the police officer who led me here that morning was now leading me out.

I glanced over my shoulder looking at Carlo with tears rolling down his thin, creamy colored face.

My gut told me that would be the last time I'd see him for a long while.

That's all I got so far, thank you for reading! Comment and vote!

Love M.M