I Was Made For You

33

"the court hearing"

Justin's POV

Today is the court hearing. Emma has gotten more and more comfortable around the family the past couple of days. She hung around with all of us outside of her room and she even did a few things without having to have me with her. She's realizing that she can get through this and that she can fight this. Unfortunetly, her parent's suggested putting her back in therapy once or twice a week rather than once a month. She isn't upset about it, she feels therapy will be good for her to deal with this.

I walked into the court room with Emma right next to me, tightly holding onto my hand and hugging my arm. The whole drive here she was shaking, trying not to cry.

"I'll be right here" I said to her. She walked through the little gate that separates the witness seating from the prosecution and defense table. I however have to sit by myself in the witness seating while everyone else sits behind me in the audience area, since I was obviously there and a witness. Meaning I am also going to be questioned.

"Justin I want to sit with you" Emma said turning around and facing me, gripping onto my hands.

"You can't baby. You have to sit up there. I'll be right here, you'll be okay" I reassured her and ran my hand up and down her arm. She nodded and chewed on the side of her thumb out of nerves.

"Everything is going to be okay" I said again. Telling her this makes her feel somewhat better I've found out.

She slowly turned around and walked through the gates and took the her seat at the prosecution table. I sat directly behind her at the witness bench, with our family and friends behind us. The judge walked in and took her seat. The doors opened and Matt walked out in handcuffs, being led to the defendant table by an officer. I saw Emma tense and clasp her hand over her mouth, gripping onto the chair arm with her free hand. As he walked by her he smirked, then looking at me with a death glare.

"Members of the jury, we are called today on the behalf of Emma Jean Brooks, pressing charges against the defendant Matthew James Henry for the crime of assault and battery, as well as breaking and entering." the judge said.

"Will the prosecution attorney please call your first subject to the stand" the judge said. Jeff stood and walked towards the judge, handing her a few sets of papers.

"Your honor I would like to call my client, Ms. Brooks to the stand please." he said. Emma took a deep breath and stood up and slowly walked over to the stand and sat down.

"Do you solemnly swear to the testimony you are about to give is the whole truth and nothing but the truth?" the court clerk asked as Emma held her hand up.

"I do" she said.

"Ms. Brooks can you please tell us what exactly happened the day of the attack?" Jeff asked. She looked at me and I mouthed 'it's okay' to her and she nodded.

"I was on my way back to my apartment from the grocery store since I was stocking up on food for the drive home for the Holiday. When I got there I saw that my apartment door was cracked open and I knew I had locked it before I left. I just though Justin might possibly have come home early from his basketball game." she said without taking her eyes off of mine. She looked like she was about to cry. This will be the first time I have heard the whole story about what happened before I got there.

"When I walked in I noticed an unusual musky smell that I have never witnessed before. I saw that the family room window was open so I thought the smell was coming from there. I then closed it and that when I heard Matt speak from behind me. He was holding a few of my drawing that I keep in my dresser drawers and asked if they were mine. I faced him and asked what he wanted and he kept saying things like we belong together and that we have some sort of connection. I simply said that I did not have any recollection of what he was talking about and that's when he first touched me." she paused. A tear had fallen down her cheek and all I wanted to do was go up in front of her and wipe it away and tell her how good she's doing.