Before the sun welcomed the day, Michelle sat in the dark living room. Russ fixed her a cup of coffee and joined her, but neither said a word. At 7:30, they picked up Audra and drove to the courthouse.
Chad and Steve arrived soon after and took seats in the back row of the court. Pete, Jim, Sophia, and Claire came next and filled in the middle row between the two.
The moment Michelle dreaded. Bruce's family, dressed in black, entered the courtroom together and took their places on the other side of aisle. Permeating the courtroom, hissed a silence—more than the absence of sound, it was an absence of air, of thought. Silence twisted their hearts and ripped through them with the most demonic fear—loss.
Only Audra raised her head and met the eyes of Bruce's mother. And for that moment, the women reached through time before Meg turned away.
"All rise."
Michelle touched her heart as Drew was led into the courtroom. His was head down and she willed him to look up. Please let me see his face. Just before he sat, he turned toward his family. His colorless eyes drifted across his family, not seeming to recognize anyone.
Michelle became aware that Audra had stood up. She looked at her mom who had placed her hands in a prayer and raised them so that her thumbs touched the center of her forehead. She rocked and whispered, "Namaste."
"Mom, please sit."
Drew's eyebrow rose slightly as he looked at his Nana and, for the briefest moment, his eyes focused.
"What was that?" Sophia whispered to Claire. "Some African voodoo she picked up?"
"It means 'the highest in me honors the highest in you'," Claire said. "But I've never seen Drew look so lost."
The court formalities addressed, Rosalia approached the bench. "The defense calls Drew Kingsly to take the stand."
Audra watched her grandson. She remembered the little boy, under the white hat with flaps, digging fiercely into the sand. She never questioned why it was now Drew on the stand. She accepted it. He was always so determined in everything he did, she thought. She remembered how Steve and Michelle celebrated every burp and every word he gurgled. She grieved for her daughter and Steve. With folded hands, she bowed her head to bring strength to Drew.
His testimony ended. The judge instructed the jury and they left the room.
Death's breath lingered.
Within hours, the jury filed back into the courtroom and sat without looking at Drew.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?"
"Yes, we have your honor."
Only Audra could breathe.
Thank you for reading Harmony! I hope you're enjoying the story... you're almost at the end!
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HARMONY
قصص عامةHer father left. The perfect house in the perfect neighborhood. Claire needed her father. Her mother works hard, but hard to keep the neighbors impressed. Then, her dad runs away to be a rock band roadie. Her 4.5 AP Nerdfest brother is accus...
