After I left

XII

Callie's P.O.V.

**three weeks later**

As I stood in front of the brown doors my mind pleaded for justice.

With all of the attention my case had gotten, it made it's way to court quickly.

My family and I stood outside the courthouse doors waiting to hear the verdict. We didn't want to wait inside, watching his family.

Colton has been in jail for the last three weeks waiting for the trial.

Serena is here too, waiting inside with Nathan and his family.

"Honey, are you okay?" My mom asked, brushing aside a piece of my hair.

"I'm fine, Mom."

She smiled at me, not fully believing me by the looks of it.

My dad stood a few feet away, leaning against the railing of the stairs.

A chilly wind blew by, sending chills up my arms. I quickly wrapped my arms around myself, trying to preserve as much heat as I can. Even with it being summer, this cold front really has shaken my wardrobe a bit.

We all turned our heads upon hearing the big wooden door creak open.

"Nathan..." I mumbled, stepping toward him.

My ribs have healed a considerate amount, they still hurt when I climbed the stairs, though.

"They've reached a verdict."

My mother held my hand tightly in her own. I'm not sure if she is trying to comfort me or herself because at the moment both of us could use a martini.

My mother and I followed Nathan inside, hearing a few people applauding and sighs.

My eyes focused on Colton, who is being escorted by police to his family.

"What?" I asked, my eyes filling with tears.

Is he free?

"He's saying goodbye to his family," Serena informed me, engulfing me in a huge hug.

"Congratulations! We won!" Nathan cheered quietly beside me.

The tears in my eyes fell freely, except now they were tears of joy. Nathan quickly brushed the tears from my cheeks, wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug.

I wrapped my arms tightly around Nathan, burying my head in his chest.

By the time I pulled out of Nathan's arms, Colton was being escorted behind the doors he entered through. I glanced at his family, his mother in tears and his father trying to comfort her.

Don't get me wrong, neither of his parents were happy to hear about what he had done, they were so disappointed that they wouldn't go on stand as witnesses to his mental health.

"Callie, I'm sorry for my son. I do hope you can forgive us, though. I would expect no such thing for Colton," His mom said, passing by me as she left the courtroom.

"I already have," I mumbled back to her, smiling at her as she left.

I didn't see any reason to not forgive her.

Yes, her son did hurt me physically and mentally. Yes, she still loves her son even if I don't.

No, she did not raise him to become a rapist or psychopath.

There was no way she could be blamed for any of this, except for the fact that she didn't get an abortion when she was pregnant with him.

I hate the idea of abortions anyways.