It Must Be Your Faith

John 15:16

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you." - John 15:16

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A few days had passed since Zach met his half siblings. Currently, they were in court testifying against their father. The morning was hectic as everyone's yard was covered in reporters trying to get a statement from those involves. Everyone has already testified except for Zach and Madi. He wasn't allowed to be in her testimony. It was Madi's only request.

"The night of my sixth birthday was the first time he came into my room. I was young and I didn't understand what he was doing to me. I tried to ask him and he would shush me. Daddy loves you Madi. Show daddy you love him too. Nobody knew. The way I acted didn't change. I didn't fall into a depression nor did I stop eating or acted out. I thought it was normal." Madi's voice cracked slightly at the end.

"I saw them you know? The pictures he took of Catherine. I hated it when he talked about his time with her." "Care to elaborate, Miss. Goode?" the attorney asked. Madi's glare could have cut through glass. "He was in love with her." Gasps could be heard around the room. Zach's jaw clenched. He had his suspicions, but to hear it be said out loud was a lot more painful than he imagined it would be.

"In some sick, twisted way he believed he loved her. The way he talked about her disgusted me. His voice was full of such fondness. He made it sound like they were in relationship even when she cried and told him she didn't want it. He thought she was acting. I know every gruesome detail and every heartbreaking plea Catherine made to him. Once, when I was so tired of living in the dark, I asked him, 'why me? Why wasn't she good enough anymore?' He pet my hair and said, 'You look like her.' That's the moment it all dawned on me. He loved her when she was a child, but Catherine couldn't stay a little girl forever. She grew up. That's why he married my mom. He wanted to recreate a mini Catherine and he succeeded." Madi took a moment keep her emotions under check, so she could finish her testimony.

"For the past five years, the sun was my one and only savior and companion. The sun kept me safe from the monster who would come from the dark. Now, five years later, I'm so tired of being afraid of the dark." Madi's voice faded towards the end of her statement as tears flooded her eyes.

The room was dead silent. The lawyer was the first to regain his composure. "Thank you Miss. Goode. You may take a seat." Madi stood up and walked straight into her mother's arms. "The court calls Zachary Goode to the stands." The judge said as he used his gavel. Zach and Cammie both stood up. She turned to face him. "No matter what they hear or what they think, I will always love you. No part of you has nothing to do with him unless you allow it. You are your mother's legacy. Don't forget that." She gave him a gentle kiss and Zach held her close and tightly for a few seconds drawing from her strength. "You and me against the world." Zach mummers into her hair. "Always and forever." Cammie replies before letting him go.

"All of my life, I grew up thinking my mother hated my very existence. She constantly drank and said the most awful things, but she never hit me. Her abuse was emotional. I never understood why she acted the way she did. Was it something I did? Something I said? I grew to resent her, but I never hated her. Instead, I hated myself. Why wasn't I ever good enough for her? A mother is supposed to love her child unconditionally, but Catherine didn't love me. At least, I didn't think she did until I found out the truth. Now I understand her. My mom went through Hell, but she didn't live through it. Instead she burned in it until she couldn't live in it anymore. I don't agree with her method, but she did the best she could with the hand she was dealt with. The justice system failed her. My story, Madi's story, and my mom's story is proof of that." Zach stated as he made eye contact with the judge. This testimony was just for show. Zach's real testimony was going to happen in front of him. Zach wanted to face his family's monster head on and the judge allowed for Zach to read off a letter his father. The media will be present, but Madi will be absent as Madi refuses to ever see him again. Natalie and Noah decided to stay with her as emotional support as Zach faced him.

"This court session is taking an hour long recess as the jury debates on all the evidence presented" the judge declared. "An hour. This nightmare ends officially in an hour." Zach tells the family as they walk out of the courtroom.