𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐧

Three

Today was the day that we would be witnesses in the trial of Parker Sun, the man who had taken Olivia's life. Cameron, Emily, Promise, Jasper, and I sat in the courtroom, waiting for our turn to give our testimony.

I couldn't help but fidget in my uncomfortable dress, adorned with black and grey fabric and a smattering of rhinestones. Cameron and Jasper also wore dark suits, while Promise and Emily matched in their own black and grey ensembles.

As we waited, my mind kept replaying the events of that fateful day. The sound of the gunshot, the shock on Olivia's face, the blood seeping from her wounds. It was all too much to bear.

But we had to be strong. We had to tell the truth, for Olivia's sake. We owed it to her.

Finally, the bailiff called our names and we were escorted to the witness stand. As we took our oath, I knew that our words would have a profound impact on the outcome of this trial. It was a heavy burden to bear, but for Olivia, we were willing to do anything.

As each of us took turns recounting our version of events, I could see the tension in Parker's face. He tried to maintain a stoic expression, but I could see the fear and guilt in his eyes. It was a small comfort to know that he was finally facing justice for what he had done.

After what felt like an eternity, we were dismissed from the stand. As we exited the courtroom, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. We had done our part, The sun beat down on the hood of my car as I drove them to the court in City Hall of Oregon. My hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, my heart pounding with nerves. I knew I had to talk to Parker's family and Olivia's family, and the thought made my stomach churn. Finally, we reached our destination and I parked the car in a designated spot in the parking lot. Turning off the engine, we all jumped out of the car eager to get inside.

As we walked towards the entrance of City Hall, my legs felt like jelly and my palms were slick with sweat. The weight of the situation bearing down on me heavily. Jasper must have noticed my distress because he placed his hand on my shoulder in a reassuring gesture. We entered through the large glass doors of City Hall, and immediately I could feel my anxiety rising. The air inside was thick with tension, and I couldn't help but shiver uncontrollably. Jasper squeezed my shoulder gently, reminding me that he was there for support. "Do not worry, my dear. Parker will pay for his actions," Jasper's voice was filled with determination as he reassured me.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm my racing heart. "Okay, thank you. That means so much to me..." I replied in a steady tone.

Jasper leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss on my cheek, causing a wave of calmness to wash over me.

Out of all our friends, he had the ability to soothe me like no one else.

As we made our way towards the court, I caught sight of Olivia's parents. My heart ached at the thought of their daughter being taken away from them.

Without hesitation, I ran towards Olivia's mom and wrapped her in a tight hug. We had grown up together, and seeing her only child being taken away was heartbreaking for all of us who knew and loved her.

At that moment, I couldn't help but think about Jonathan Safran Foer's words: "You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness." It was a bittersweet reminder that life is full of both joy and sorrow, and we must learn to embrace both. We all sat down in the somber courtroom, the air thick with tension and emotion. I couldn't help but notice how out of place Parker looked in his bright orange jumpsuit, his usual charm replaced by a stoic expression. My heart raced as I questioned why I had used the word "cute" to describe him. This was no high school romance - he was a murderer, not some popular soccer player at Liberty High.

As Olivia's mother took the stand and began her testimony, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. The pain and loss etched on her face were palpable, and it broke my heart to witness it. Even though I never knew Olivia Khan personally, I would never forget her or the tragedy that had brought us all together.

One by one, we gave our testimonies, each one more difficult than the last. When it was my turn, I approached the center and locked eyes with Parker Sun, the suspect in this heartbreaking case. I then turned to face the rest of the room, feeling a lump form in my throat as I prepared to speak. With a deep breath, I began to share my memories and thoughts about what had happened, determined to seek justice for Olivia and her family. On that fateful Friday night, September 4th, 2016, at Olivia Khan's house, a group of five freshmen from Liberty High School gathered for a party. The air was electric with excitement as they donned their best dresses and danced the night away.

But amidst the laughter and music, I noticed something off. Parker, one of the seniors, seemed to be leaving the party early. My curiosity getting the best of me, I followed him and overheard a chilling conversation between him and his friend about murdering Olivia Khan. My heart raced as I realized the danger my friends and I were in.

Frantically, we tried to get Olivia out of the house but before we could reach safety, Parker started shooting at us. I could hear the screams of my friends as they fell one by one, and then there was silence. I turned and saw Olivia on the ground, two bullets lodged in her back. She was gone.

Tears streamed down my face as I stood in front of the judge, recounting what had happened that night. The look on Parker's face showed no remorse for taking 18 innocent lives. How many more would he have taken if he hadn't been caught? It was heartbreaking to think about all the families who were now burying their loved ones because of his actions.

As I finished my statement, I looked at Parker with a mixture of anger and sadness. He didn't care about anyone else but himself, and now he would face justice for his crimes. The courtroom deserved closure for this senseless tragedy, and it was up to us to decide whether Parker would live or die.

I returned to my seat, still shaken from reliving that horrific night. My friends offered words of comfort but nothing could ease the pain of losing our dear friend Olivia. The judge slammed his gavel down, signifying the end of our statements. It was now up to the court to decide Parker's fate.

The courtroom was filled with an air of tension and anticipation as the judge's voice boomed through the room. "All rise, you can now be seated," he commanded, his gavel pounding against the wooden stand.

A man named Parker Sun stood in the center of the room, flanked by two solemn police officers. His face was stoic and his hands were shaking slightly.

"Parker Lin Zin Sun, after careful consideration and review of the evidence, this court finds you guilty of first-degree murder without parole. You will face the Death Penalty." The judge's words hung heavy in the air, causing gasps and sobbing to erupt from the spectators in the room.

Parker simply nodded at the judge's decision, his expression unchanged.

As everyone in the room grappled with the gravity of the verdict, Parker was escorted out by guards and taken to jail. I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that justice had been served for my friend Olivia, but it was also bittersweet knowing that Parker would be paying for his crime with his life.

In the midst of all the chaos and emotion, I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. It was Promise, trying to comfort me amidst all the overwhelming feelings. I could hear Olivia's mother crying in the distance, her grief too far away for me to reach out and console her. But for now, I found solace in Promise's presence next to me.