Blue Moon #3 (Story of Us Series - Into the Blue) - Sydney Jamesson Page 0,134

you must promise me you’ll follow through with my wishes, even though they might cause you embarrassment. I’m not doing it for that reason, you know that. This is my last chance to make amends for my sins and to make others accountable for theirs.

Attached are the names and addresses of the two men who followed me to my new home when I was taken away from Bright Hill. They continued to rape me, every month, sometimes more. They’d come to collect me, pretending to be family members and no questions were asked, no one wondered why I cried myself to sleep when I returned, and no one cared. It went on for four years until I became a little old for their taste and they moved on to younger girls. I was relieved but hated myself for saying nothing. But I had no one to tell. All I could do was wait for you.

You never came.

Ayden stands up, the weight of responsibility bearing down on him like a straightjacket soaked in water. “Your honour, the rest is personal and bears no relevance to this case…”

The judge is not impressed. “Mr. Stone, you submitted a document to this court. We will hear it. Please sit down.”

The young reader scans the room nervously and picks up where she left off.

When I was fourteen I met a boy who was nice to me. Ralph’s mother was ill and he came to stay for three months. We fooled around. I became pregnant. He left and went back to his mum. I hid my pregnancy until I was eight months along but started haemorrhaging and they took me to hospital. I was petrified. The pain was like nothing I’d ever felt before.

After four hours of labour I gave up and they delivered my baby boy by caesarean section. (I’ve included as many details as I can about the time and place.)

I named him Saphir after you. I don’t know his real name because they took him away from me but I did get to see him. He was beautiful, Ayden. Every wish I’d ever made came true with him; he had beautiful blue eyes and a mop of black hair. I wished so hard for that.

I’ve been waiting for the day when he comes looking for me. I’m praying his parents have taken good care of him and have not been cruel with their description of me. I didn’t want to let him go but I was about to be adopted and they said I couldn’t keep him. I was so desperate to finally have a home I agreed. But I did love him. The eight months he was inside me I loved him with every beat of my heart. He’s the one thing in my life I got right.

The reader pauses, takes out a tissue from her pocket, dries her eyes, clears her throat as best she can and carries on.

I need you to find him, Ayden, and to help him make his way in the world. His father was smart and funny and he’ll be the same. He may not be the perfect son but someone like you could put him on the right track. I don’t expect you to shower him with gifts or anything so I’ve signed the apartment and all my expensive jewellery over to you in my will. I haven’t touched the monthly allowance you’ve been sending me so I could give my adoptive mother £5,000 to help with her debts, and give the rest to Saphir. Maybe you can help him set up a business or show him how to use the money wisely or for good. He‘s the same age you were when you were starting out, so you’ll know what’s best.

The reader sniffs and pats her eyes.

I understand if you don’t want to get involved. All I ask is that you try to find him, and tell him something nice about me. I’m afraid all he will hear are bad things once my past catches up with me. Tell him I tried to be good but somehow I seemed to attract the bad.

I hope you remember me with fondness and think of me now and again. The times we’ve spent together have been the happiest days of my life. My mind has been twisted by the shadows that used to come for me and I know I asked you to do some shameful things. I’m sorry.

I’m hoping you’ll remember the fun times we had together