HIM

chapter 42: happiness doesn't last forever

I got a call from the police to go to  the station for an interview.
“Ms. Dawson, please tell the court how old you are?” The prosecuting attorney said. She seemed nice. “16.” I said, She continued the questions until I couldn’t take it anymore.

********
Trial

“Opening  arguments”
“What is a father? A father is someone who is supposed to protect his children from all things evil in this world. He did NOT protect her, but he ruined her. He was supposed to help her. Not ruin her at such a young age. With this expectation that all men are like him. That all men will hurt her. She had to find out the hard way.” I studied the Jury’s body language.
The defence stood. “Given the recent events Ms. Dawson endured, during these past few months. Some might say she overreacted, misunderstood the actions of her father. A father who was concerned for his daughter’s well-being. This man is innocent.”
“Cross examination.” I walk to the stand, already nervous, knowing I would have to face him, and be faced with my worst fears.

“Ms. Dawson please tell the court what happened the day your father was arrested.” I glanced at my father, he had the same look Rick did.
“I was in my room reading, when..” I paused staring at my father.
“When, what? Emma” She said. “When I heard my door open, he came in saying. ‘alone at last.’ I turned towards him, closing my book. He locked the door. He tried talking me into it, and I told him that I didn’t want to. And that it should stop.”

“That’s when he got aggressive?”
“Yes, he grabbed my arm and pinned them above my head, so I couldn’t fight back. I told him to stop, and that I didn't want him to do anything.  I tried pushing him off me, but he just hit me repeatedly. I tried screaming for help, but that never worked.” I said pausing, realizing I was shaking, “Continue.”
“I  continued fighting, even though I knew he could kill me if he wanted to. He took off his belt, and hit me with it, a few times. He forced my clothes off me, then forced himself inside me. All I could do was close my eyes.”
“Then what happened?”
“I kept fighting, then I heard a car door shut, I thought it was my mother. I started screaming again, I heard my door burst open, and Jack pulled him off me, I rushed to get dressed, then called the police.” I finished, realizing my heartrate was way too fast. “Thank you.” I nodded again.

The defence stood.  “Ms. Dawson, what were you wearing the day this happened?”
“Jeans and a hoodie. I’m not sure-”
“Were you drinking the day he was arrested?” I was confused.
“No, and if you’re-”
“Nothing further.” the defence attorney said as he sat down.

“Ms. Dawson, how old were you when these encounters with your father started?” The prosecutor said as she stood.
“They started when I was five.”
“How often?”
“As often as he could, mainly if we were at the house alone, or when  my mom worked later than him.” I said clenching my fists, trying not to break. “Did any of the other children suffer from the abuse?”
“Verbal, mental, and emotional abuse. He tried going after Lily, and I told him, she didn’t deserve it, and that it was me he wanted not her.”
“What happened with Lily?”
“I had her go to her friends. She didn’t know anything that happened, I wanted to shield her from the truth as much as possible.”
“Thank you, nothing further.” She said and sat down.

“Ms. Dawson, I apologize, you’ve been through hell within the last few months. Is that correct?”
“I suppose”
“You claim my client sexually abused you for years. Yet not a single report. Why?”
“I didn’t want to believe the man who raised me could be such a horrible person. And he said it would tear our family apart, and it would be my fault.”
“Is it possible that, due to the trauma from previous events that you could’ve, mistaken the actions your father allegedly did.”
“I’m not following.”
“Is it possible that you could have mis-read your father’s actions. On count of the encounters with Rick Sanchez.”
“Objection, relevance.”
“Benefits the case your honor, she could have been elsewhere mentally.”
“I’ll allow you to answer.”
“I guess, I could have.”
“Nothing further.”
“Prosecutor?”
“Prosecution rest.”
“15 minute recess. When we come back, defence will call their witness”