she wasn’t at home much.
What kind of sister am I?
When they call me to the stand, my nerves are all over the place. I’m not sure if I’m going to burst into tears or vomit. After I’m sworn in, the prosecutor is first up with the questioning.
“Miss White, Abby is your sister, correct?” She is an elderly lady with kind, brown eyes that urge me to answer her question.
“Yes,” I respond, my voice cracking.
“Did Abby confide in you about her relationship with the defendant?”
“No. Not about what happened in their relationship. Not long after they started dating, she began shutting me out. She only opened up to me the night she left, telling me how scared she was at how Jacob was going to react.” My heart is pounding in my chest and I’m sure everyone in the courtroom can hear it.
“Why did she shut you out?”
“I questioned her about the bruises she began showing up with.” I look at Jacob, and his heartless, green eyes are staring back at me. I wish I could wipe that smug look off his face.
“How often did she show up with new injuries?”
“I can’t be too sure. I only saw them every now and then, so perhaps once a week, but then she started wearing more clothes and keeping herself covered.”
“Describe Abby’s behaviour in the weeks leading up to her disappearance.”
“Her personality and even her appearance changed. She didn’t seem to care anymore and dropped her normal standard. It was like her happy and caring soul had been taken from her. Seeing it broke my heart.” My voice breaks and tears begin to fall. “Sorry,” I mumble into the tissue.
“It’s okay. When you’re ready, could you tell us about the night she disappeared?”
I nod and focus only on the prosecutor. I don’t want to look at my parents. I know my mum will be a complete mess. “Something with Abby had changed. She was a little happier, and she told me she was planning on leaving him.” I glance toward Jacob, giving him an ice-cold glare. I wish looks could kill. “I offered to go with her, but she assured me everything would be okay and she would see me later, but…” tears burn my cheeks again, “… later never came. I haven’t seen my sister since.”
The prosecutor thanks me and I’m allowed to leave the stand since Jacob’s lawyer has no questions for me. I return to my seat beside my mum.
Jacob is next to be called to the stand. When he gets up, he looks around at my family with a conceited look on his face. Arrogant arse. The anger within me is slowly reaching boiling point. I have so much hate and bitterness toward this man. I hope he gets what’s coming to him. I hope karma comes around and punches him right in the face. I’m not usually a violent person, but my parents and I have been through so much lately, and I can’t take much more.
Jacob is sworn in and takes his seat. His lawyer is first up with questioning.
“Mr. Smith, please tell the court your relationship with Abby White.” His lawyer is young, and I can only hope he’s fresh out of law school and does a terrible job.
“We were in a relationship, a happy one and so very much in love.” His voice is full of confidence. Liar!
He sits there all sure of himself, with his jet-black hair and shining fearless green eyes. If I had met him on the street, not knowing what I do now, I would have probably considered him a nice guy.
“Were you in any way abusive toward Abby?”
“No.”
“How do you explain the bruises?”
“Well, let’s just say she was a little clumsy at times and she also enjoyed things… rough.”
What? He is so full of it!
My hands begin to shake with my anger and I start looking at my hands, picking at my nails to keep my hands busy.
“Do you mean sexually?”
“Yes.”
There’s no way she was like that at all.
The questions continue to fly at him, and still he expresses no emotion as he sits up there and lies. All I hear are lies. They make my ears want to bleed. I hope they’re just as clear to the jury.
After both lawyers have finished, the jury is ushered away to make their decision. I sit in silence, praying it will all work out in our favour.
“Please stand,” I hear the court officer addressing the courtroom, pulling me out of my thoughts.