Confidential: A Jc Caylen Story

Chapter Twenty One

Franklin, TN

My palms were sweaty, it had taken three months since the arrest just to get a court date, you'd think that with all this time I would get used to the idea of being in the same room as the stranger. However I couldn't bring myself to sit in the court room with them, the judge had agreed to let me appear in court via Skype, although it made me feel better, it was still nerve wrecking. I held my breath as the judge let out the jury's verdict; guilty, life in prison, no chance for parole. I let out a big breath and felt tears stream down my face, justice had finally been served. I glanced over to Mel letting out a slight smile, I smiled back. We had fought so hard for this day, it was almost surreal that it was actually here.

After some paperwork and interviews with news crews and police officers, even the FBI, I was released. Released from not only Witness Protection Program, from the confidential agreement I was bound to. I was let free into the world, I no longer had to be afraid and watch my back. I no longer had to pretend to be someone else. I was allowed to be Skylar Carson, the sole survivor of a mass family murder. Most people looked at me like I was a warrior, a miracle, or survivor. Maybe I was those things however I wanted nothing more than to make up for all the time I lost over the past few years, I wanted to be normal.

"Skylar?" Mel said as I was leaving the office building. I had never heard him call me Skylar before, he always made a point to stick with my character more than anyone else.

"Melman?" I said turning with a smile through the tears, it was nice being able to respond to my name after the years I had spent responding to others.

"It was a pleasure working with and for you. I think that you're a fantastic person and watching you grow up I know that you will do great things. Congratulations on your justice, I wish you nothing but the best." It was then I realized that Mel would no longer be watching over me, I no longer needed him. It was strange to even think about. He held out his hand for a shake, I pushed it aside and embraced him into a tight hug.

"Mel, thank you for being a parent, sibling, friend, and hero, whenever I needed one. I'm going to miss you more than you'll ever know." I said letting him free from the embrace just in time to see tears stream down his face. "Mel are you.." he cut me off.

"Go out there and be you Skylar. Live life, enjoy every moment, and do what makes you happy." he smiled brightly a rare thing to see, "My numbers always the same!" he said forming his hand into a phone and raising it to his ear.

I headed out of the courthouse with a new outlook on life. I had overcome a huge obstacle, and survived. I made my way down the streets of my hometown, finally able to be who I truly was. Everyone had asked me all day, "What's the first thing you're going to do now that you're you again?" and finally I knew the answer.