Clean

the freedom of fighting

A/N:

hi guys!! this chapter is really heavy, and i would like to warn you that their are very descriptive depictions of rape and sexual assault. if this is triggering feel free to skip this chapter! you are so loved and cherished.

❀ ʚɞ Adeline ʚɞ ❀

"I feel when I question, my skin starts to burn"

April 31, 2005

"And you knew Mr. McGarry prior to the night of December thirty-first?" Chris asked, his tone even and reassuring.

It didn't stop the adrenaline coursing through my veins with each word that was spoken. I felt lost, like I was in some sort of fever dream. I'd answered all sorts of questions, some as simple as what I did at school and some more difficult like things about that night.

I smoothed my skirt onto my lap for the fiftieth time, my damp palms gliding across the fabric—an attempt at bringing myself back to reality.

"Yes," I replied, my voice coming out hoarse and uncertain.

I felt like a little kid, terrified of the monster under my bed. Except the monster wasn't under my bed, it was sitting at a table ten feet away from me with fury blazing in his eyes and a smug smirk on his lips.

"He was a friend of my brother's," I explained. "They played on the same rugby team."

"And would you say you were friends with him?"

"Objection. Relevance?" The evil defence attorney sneered.

"I'm trying to establish any prior relationship between the two," Chris looked to the judge.

"Objection, overruled," the judge sighed.

I looked between Chris and the judge, unsure of what the hell was going on.

"Adeline, would you say you were friends with him?"

"No," I shook my head. "I'd only ever said hello in passing, we were barely acquaintances."

"And how old were you on the night of December thirty-first?"

"Fifteen."

"How old was Mr. McGarry?"

"Seventeen, I believe."

"And what happened when you went upstairs?"

"We talked for a bit, about school and rugby." I explained, digging my nails into the palm of my hand. "Then we kissed, that's all I thought it would be, just a kiss."

"What happened after the kiss?"

"He..." I sniffled. "He pushed me onto the bed, and told me he was going to have some fun with me."

I looked to the audience for help, but everyone my eyes landed on only made it worse. Stephan's smugness made me feel sick.

I couldn't look at my mam who was sobbing like a child. I couldn't look at my dad who was glaring at the defence attorney or Johnny who was seething with his eyes on Stephan. I couldn't look at Declan who had tears streaming down his cheeks. Each of their faces only made it harder.