Her Dad's Best Friend

The Day of the Trial

The courtroom felt colder than I expected, the air heavy with tension. I sat in my seat, my hands resting on my lap, trying to steady the tremble that I had fought all morning. Today was the day—Chris's trial. After everything that had happened, it all came down to this moment.

I glanced at Jordan sitting beside me, his hand resting protectively on my thigh, offering silent comfort. His eyes met mine, and there was a fire of encouragement and strength that I clung to. He gave me a small nod, a reminder that I wasn't alone in this.

But that didn't take away the nerves. My stomach twisted, my pulse racing with every passing second. My mind kept replaying everything—Chris stalking me, the attack at the store, the terror of hearing his voice when I was hiding with Aiden. And then, the break-in at home. It all seemed like a blur, but the fear, the anger, and the fight still burned inside me.

When the bailiff called my name, signaling it was time for me to testify, I took a deep breath and stood up. My legs felt weak, but I forced myself to walk steadily to the witness stand. As I sat down and raised my hand to swear in, I could feel all eyes on me. Chris was sitting across the room, his expression cold and detached, but I didn't let myself look at him for long. He didn't deserve my attention.

The prosecutor approached, offering a reassuring smile. Then the questions began. It was time to tell my story.

"I remember the day vividly," I started, my voice steady though my heart pounded in my chest. "I was at the store, picking up some things for Aiden. I... I had this feeling, like someone was watching me, but I tried to brush it off. I put Aiden in the car seat and started driving home. That's when I saw him—Chris. He was following me. I tried to stay calm, but..."

My voice wavered for a moment, but I took a breath and pushed forward.

"Before I could react, he came up beside me, dragged me out of the car, and beat me. I remember falling to the ground, trying to shield myself, but he just kept hitting me. I was terrified, not just for myself but for my son. I was scared I wouldn't be able to protect him." My throat tightened, but I continued, refusing to let my fear control me. "The ambulance came, but I was unconscious by then."

The prosecutor nodded, asking me to describe what happened the night of the break-in.

"That night at home... I was breastfeeding Aiden when I heard them. A group of them broke in. I panicked, grabbed Aiden, and ran to the bathroom. I called Jordan, my dad, and KD. But I knew they wouldn't get there in time. I could hear them searching the house, and then I heard Chris's voice. He said, 'Find her.' That's when I knew... I had to fight."

I swallowed hard, my voice shaking as I relived the terrifying moments. "I kept a gun hidden, one I never told anyone about. I grabbed it and hid Aiden under the sink. I went out there, and I shot three of them. But Chris and his bodyguard were still there. I was filled with so much rage... I just... I couldn't stop myself. I fought Chris, and I..."

I paused, the weight of my actions heavy on my chest. "I beat him, until Jordan, my dad, and KD came in. I was covered in blood, but I didn't care. I had to protect Aiden. I had to protect my family."

The courtroom was silent as I finished speaking, every word hanging in the air. I could see the reactions of the jury, the way they looked between me and Chris, and I could feel the sympathy in their eyes. But more than anything, I felt my own strength.

The defense attorney tried to rattle me with questions, but I stood my ground. I was confident in what I had done, and no amount of twisting my words would change the truth. I had protected my son, my home, and myself. I wasn't the scared girl I used to be—I was a fighter, and I wasn't backing down.

As I stepped down from the witness stand and returned to my seat next to Jordan, I felt a sense of relief. It wasn't over yet, but I had spoken my truth. Now it was up to the jury. Jordan squeezed my hand, and I leaned into his touch, feeling his silent support wash over me.

Whatever happened next, I knew we'd get through it together. But in that moment, I felt a sense of peace. I had faced my fear, spoken my truth, and no matter what, I was proud of the woman I had become.