Freedom by Mary Crawford

Author:Mary Crawford [Crawford, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781945637148
Publisher: Diversity Ink
Published: 2018-02-13T05:00:00+00:00

I fidget as I pull down the mirror on the visor. I check my teeth for lipstick stains. “You have no idea how much I wish we could just take off on your bike somewhere. The last place I want to be this morning is testifying in front of a room full of people and the jury who will decide my brother’s fate. I don’t really want to have to choose sides. This is so hard.”

Phoenix takes a moment to study me while we’re stopped at a stop sign. “I don’t think your suit would’ve faired too well on my bike. Besides, you look too beautiful today to be picking bugs out of your teeth.”

I wrinkle my nose. “Eww! That’s disgusting! I thought that’s what the face shield was for.”

“It is. But, inevitably some of those little suckers get through.”

“That’s gross! You know the next time I go on your bike, bugs are going to be the only thing I think about, right?”

“Probably. I’ll have to come up with something else to distract you when that time comes.”

“Oh, so none of this was really true. You were just trying to distract me from my nerves?”

“I can neither confirm nor deny the truth of your statement,” Phoenix declares with a smirk on his face.

I’m startled when we pull into the parking lot at the courthouse. “Well, apparently you did a really good job of distracting me because I have no idea where all the time went.”

“Seriously, don’t worry about it. All you have to do is tell those people what really happened and how you discovered your brother’s true nature. Don’t hold anything back to protect his reputation. If something happens to your brother, it’s his fault not yours. He is the one who did all those things. You are not responsible for what happens to him. You’re only job is to tell the story the best way you know how.”

I reach out and squeeze his hand one more time before I enter the courthouse. “Thank you. Thank you for being here for me. I know I can’t change what my brother did, but I still feel slimy going up against him. But, I know what he did to Katie and whoever this new girl is totally wrong. He can’t be allowed to continue. So, I have to do this even if it tears my family apart.”

“Your bravery is so impressive. I am so proud of you for doing the right thing even though it’s hard. That’s why the jury is going to believe what you say. You don’t try to sugarcoat the tough stuff, you just deal with it. The jury’s gonna see your honesty and respond.”

“Do you really think so?” I ask as my heart pounds. “I’m not really good in social situations. In fact, I’m kind of terrible. I would rather be at home drawing or playing with the animals. This stuff entirely freaks me out.”

“You can do this. Just tell the story the same way you told it to me and to Cody or anyone else you've spoken with.

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