All alone

Chapter 22-Part 2

Jake's P.O.V.

We just finished recess which was waiting outside to see when you can come back in. I then went back inside and sat in my chair. Just like before everyone sat where they were before. It was quite frankly, weird how everyone remembered there seats when hearing a trial like this. 

Not the greatest, I'll tell you that.

"We are now going to hear what the jury says but before we do, we'll hear our final closing statements." the judge says.

My lawyer did his closing statement for me. "As you could see Jake is a young man who happens to find love but then obstacles form and it puts a toll on his relationship. Even on the partner. But never the less, on the person who was hurt the most. Overall, Jake was doing all these things to save his girlfriend's life. The amount of times, he has had to suck it up and get over it. It's unspeakable. Now, you may think that there is nothing left to be said from Jake's point of view, but there is. I mean I have gotten you all the pieces to the puzzle. All you need to do, is finish it and solve it. Solve this really easy puzzle because you may be saving not only one but multiple lives as well." He then walked to my table and sat down. 

"I am not going to stand here and tell you that Jake isn't at fault. In fact, he is very much the victim but for someone who believes that they did everything he could to save his girlfriend's life makes me think, he isn't the victim. That he is very much at fault just like the rest of these boys. They may have done something tragic, horrifying even, but they have admit to these flaws and there willing to seek out there punishment. It's only a sad dilemma that Jake isn't the same way." Vic's lawyer said as he stepped up right after my lawyer and spoke. 

I could see it on the jury's face and they were not having it. I think they were convinced once they heard Angela's testimony. I mean when they heard mine, they were skeptical a little bit because Vic's lawyer didn't seem too convince that his client was innocent but the thought of actually seeing this whole thing through was enough for them to maybe see what Vic's lawyer saw.

"Jury do you need another few minutes of recess or are you sticking with your jurisdiction?" the judge asked.

They all looked around and then one person spoke, "We are all sticking with our jurisdiction." 

"Okay, let's have it." the judge said.

"On the rape charges, along with child pornography, pedophile charges, sexual assault, assault, physical, mental and emotional abuse charges, we find the defendants guilty and being held the maximum sentence for his crimes." The jury said.

The room reacted to the news about what the jury decided. Some were happy and others were upset and thought that the trial wasn't fair. That the lawyer gave up. Personally, I think he tried but when he tried to question me and all my answers were lined up like if I had practiced it multiple times before I did the trial, he knew for sure he'd lost the case.

For a moment, I think I was holding my breathe and when I heard the jurisdiction, I had released it. I felt like a weight was off my shoulders.  

From then on, I believe that everything was now going to be okay. Yea, it was a little rocky at first but I think if I was with anyone, in this case they would have reacted probably the same. But Aubrey isn't anyone, she is the one person that can surprise me without even trying and the one person that makes me smile a billion times a day. That's who I am with and will always be with.

Aubrey then came and hugged me.

The judge then banged her gravel and left the room. My mom then came and hugged me. "Honey, you did an amazing job and I am so proud of you. Protecting Aubrey was like a realization that I knew what I did for you was the right thing."