Heal my Heart

Chapter 32 - The Trial

"Grizz, can you come here to answer some questions, please?" Becca asked him.

He stood up from his chair on shaking legs. Despite all the reassuring words Sam had told him the previous night and the false sense of confidence, he couldn't help his heart to race in his chest. He knew that he wasn't responsible for his past, but still, acknowledging it in front of the whole town with strong determination was definitely harder than he thought.

He sat in front of everyone and tried to relax at Becca's warm smile. He had already briefly discussed the trial's defense with her the previous day, but this time, it was so different. He wasn't only with his friend and boyfriend, people he deeply trusted.

"We all understand that this can be a really uncomfortable subject for you, so if you feel the need to take a break or to take some time to answer the questions, please do. We also need you to be absolutely honest and to tell us everything so we can clearly understand the situation, is that alright with you, Grizz?" she gently asked.

"O...Okay" he whispered.

"First, let's talk about you childhood. You were born from Ellen Visser and Logan Visser. Your mother passed away when you were eight, am I right?"

"Yes." he answered confidently. His mother was the only thing he was now in peace with.

"What happened after your mother passed away, Grizz? Did your father's behavior change?"

"Yes, he became really violent." he felt the uncomfortable questions coming.

"Violent, you say. Did he hit you, Grizz?" she asked in an interested way.

"Yes, he...he hit me almost everyday for years." he answered, trying to stay as composed as possible with the growing whisperings coming from the crowd.

Even before the trial, he had suspected that the constant attention from the audience and the negative emotions coming from everyone would affect him greatly because of his power. He was now completely certain of it.

"Alright, can you please give us some exemples of those beatings? It's not that I don't trust you, but the jury has to get the proof you're not lying." she said with an apologetic look.

"Well...Now comes the hard part." he thought to himself.

"Hum...Usually he lost it when I talked about my mother or anything related to her. He would suddenly yell insults and begin to hit me on the side or kicking me on the floor. He was always drunk and after completely lashing out at me, he always collapsed on the couch in the living room. When I was sure he was asleep, I usually went to find refuge either at Luke's place or in our library at home."

"Can you give us specific exemples, please?" she insisted.

"Well...hum, I took dance classes when I was, like, ten and when he discovered it, he was furious. He threatened me but I wouldn't listen so he broke my knee to prevent me from dancing behind his back ever again. I had a seizure that night and ended up at the hospital."

Gosh how hard it was. Not only to tell his most dark times to a whole crowd, but to have to explain it, describe it, reliving it. He could still feel his father's hard punch against his abused cheek and he felt the sudden urge to escape the trial right now. But he knew he had to hold on, the worst was still to come.

"Alright, I think we can all acknowledge the victim's physical abuse now." she said, turning to the jury.

"Grizz, how do you feel about this past of yours? Is it something you've made peace with now?" Becca asked him gently.

"No, it's not. I'm still really uncomfortable about it all."

"So uncomfortable that it's not something you wanted everyone to know about, I guess."