Real Love (Book I)

Chapter 13

| May 14, Sunday, 9:07 a.m. |

*Aaliyah's P.O.V*
"Michael, baby, wake up", I say while shaking him lightly.

He starts to move and groan.

"What's wrong?", he asks.

"Nothing. I just wanted to let you know that I have to get to the office for the whole restraining order thing. I should be back in a few hours."

He rubs his eyes. "Ok, I might not be here when you get back. I have rehearsals."

"Alright."

I kiss him goodbye and make my way out of the house.

Today's the day that I set my restraining order against John.

| 9:39 a.m. |

I'm finally in the office and this process is a lot quicker than I expected. All I have to do is fill out a few forms and answer some questions from the workers who are helping me.

"So, Ms. Haughton, what are your motives behind this restraining order?", one of the workers ask.

"A few months ago and throughout John and I's relationship, there were physical altercations to which I was the victim and any physical harm that I had done to him was solely from self defense", I say as I continue to fill out forms.

"Do you have any paperwork to confirm that?", a woman asks.

"Yes, she does", my lawyer Ms. Tomson says as she pulls papers out of her briefcase, "These are a few copies of John's police records; charges and all."

The lady put on her glasses and looks through them.

"Alright, I'm done with the paperwork. What's gonna happen now?", I ask.

One of the workers, a man, looks at me and hesitantly begins to speak.

"Actually, John is here with his lawyers to try and fight this but the way that it looks, you're basically a shoe in so as of now things are in your favor. I don't want to alarm you but, when John is finish with whatever he's doing on his side of the building, you two are gonna have to be in the same room for the final decision", he says.

My body begins to tense up.

"W-What? Why do we have to be in the same room? I don't want to see him", I say in almost a whisper.

My breathing becomes heavy as if I'm hyperventilating and I feel slightly dizzy.

"Calm down, Aaliyah. There's tight security everywhere in here and the only reason we're doing this is because it's proper protocol. Do I think it's a good idea? No, but it's not up to me so just breathe. You will be fine", Ms. Tomson says.

A man walks into the room.

"If everything is done in here, you all can now head down to the main building for the final decision", he says.

We all nod and he walks off.

"Are you ready?", Ms. Tomson asks.

"No... but I don't have much of a choice do I?", respond as I get up and walk out the room with my lawyer close behind.

We approach the main building which is just a mini courtroom, and as I was informed, there were security guards in almost every area of the room which sort of put me at ease.

I take my position behind one of the desks alongside Ms. Tomson.

I hear the door open and I immediately put my head down. Last thing I wanna do is make eye contact with him.