Stay With Me - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 36

DJ walked into the living room to see Karla sat with Kath and Miles was on her other side, both of them holding one of Kath's hands each and a female police officer was sat on the couch opposite them with a recorder in her hands.

"DJ..." Kath choked out when she saw him and he caught her when she threw herself at him. He held her close to him, kissing the nape of her neck because it was all he could get to. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" She sobbed and DJ held onto her impossibly tighter, but he was always careful not to hurt her - her wound still ached and she was carrying his child, the last thing he wanted was to cause her any pain.

"You have nothing to be sorry for... we're gonna put that piece of shit where he belongs, okay? None of this is your fault." DJ said, his voice quiet but determined. Kath flinched when she felt another hand on her back, but she turned her head against DJ's chest and saw that it was Karla.

"I don't want you to apologize, alright? My son... h-he did something unforgivable to you and we will do all we can to get justice... sweetheart, you're not at fault. You're the victim in this! But you're so brave, and we'll get him behind bars and then we can all just focus on you and the little one." Karla said softly, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. It was destroying her and Rommel to know that JC had done something so horrific, they thought they'd raised their children better than to even think about doing something so cruel.

"We're going to record your statement right here, Miss Bernardo, then you don't have to come to the station later to make one there... it can be scary to come to the station and make a statement, you feel like a criminal even though you're not, so it'll be much easier to do it here." The officer said, speaking calmly and softly.

"C-Can they stay?" Kath choked out and the officer nodded her head.

"Of course, as long as they stay silent whilst you give your statement." The officer said.

"The recording can be used at a trial, right? S-So Kath doesn't have to go and talk in front of him?" Miles asked and the officer nodded.

"Yes, but there are other ways that Kath can speak at the trial and not have to see Carlito - but we won't discuss that now, it might not even lead to a trial if he pleads guilty. Come and take a seat, Miss Bernardo, and we can get the hard part out of the way." The officer said and Kath slowly sat herself down on the couch next to Miles again and DJ sat on her other side. Karla stayed stood up, but she was near her family, tears running slowly down her face as the officer started the recording device, stating who was in the room and the time it was taking place. "Now, in your own words... can you please tell me what happened that night and what led up to that? Take your time, I know it's hard." The officer spoke calmly and reassuringly. DJ and Miles were both holding Kath's hands, DJ's free hand rubbing the small of her back gently to comfort her and remind her that he was right beside her.

"I-I grew up with very religious parents, t-to the point that they were neglectful and I-I was told a lot that I was a test from God because I wasn't like them... m-my Mom would lock me in a small room a lot that had basically a shrine to Jesus in it and I was supposed to pray my sins away when I did something wrong... I-I got pregnant by the first guy who ever showed an interest in me and my parents threw me out, yelled at they'd pray for me to lose the baby so that I could beg for God's forgiveness... I ran to my boyfriend's house, thinking that he'd help me... he told me to leave and never talk to him again... I-I was pregnant at sixteen and living on the streets, I-I started to show and passersby used to give me some money and a homeless charity gave me a blanket for the baby for when it was born... told me to go to their center when my labor started so that I'd have somewhere safe to go, but I soon forgot who they even were... I used to stay in the park a lot, it was busy with people during the day and there was a shelter at night... I-I saw JC come under the bridge where I was staying, it was raining... h-he said he'd always wanted to sleep with a pregnant woman, asked how much it would cost him... I-I tried to run, but he grabbed me... raped me... threatened me not to make a sound, but he beat me anyway and m-my labor started... my son died..." Kath let out a sob at the same time that Karla did, her hands covering her mouth. One of her sons had destroyed Kath's life, and her other son had saved her life.