AURORA - THE WRONG VERDICT
1086 Words
It looked like a concrete box. Its walls are colored in dull grey. The place itself screamed of filth almost making me paralyzed but I had to do this. Besides I had come this far and wasn’t ready to give up halfway. In the hospital, I had lost track of days because I couldn’t understand why one would do something so cruel to me. I wanted to meet my assailant and ask him face to face why he did what he did. I needed to know to be able to move on. I would be lying however if I said the interrogation room didn’t intimidate me. I swear just being close to it made me feel like if I could lose the last thread of sanity that I was desperately clinging to. But I had to be strong. My biggest problem was the monster on the other side of the wall. I had to face him come what may. I didn’t know if being trapped with him in the same space would be a relief or detrimental to me. I wish I had a pocket knife with me or any sharp object. One I could use to protect myself if he tried anything shady. Then again since my failed suicide attempt, I haven’t been left alone. Even then Jaden was by my side. It was suffocating really. Anyway, there is nothing they could really do because once I get my answers I intend to make my failed attempt a success.
I reached for the doorknob and slowly opened the door bracing myself for the harsh reality that awaited me. The first person I saw was Aaron. He was towering over him such that his face wasn’t visible from my angle. His body though was something I would never mistake. And to think that at one point I could relate to that filth. I must have been out of my mind. How could I have been so mistaken and here I thought myself a guru. I swear my blood was boiling to just slit his throat then mine. I’m sure in the other world we could take the war further without interference. The room though apart from my two protectors, I’m sure cops were on the other side watching it and stood on alert ready to come in in case of any alterations to the assailant. I would then become the perpetrator and him a victim since death would have washed him clean.
Aaron became aware of my presence and turned to face me. It was then that I saw him. O’Malley’s face was beaten to a pulp. He didn’t look anything like the man I had seen when we first met. He seemed to have lost his will. Worse he looked like a living dead. He was clearly in much pain not only physical but also mentally. But then again isn’t that where I was? The dark hole was quickly swallowing me whole with no hope of ever getting out.
Not in control of my own body, my shaky legs moved towards him. Aaron and Jaden never spoke a word nor stop me. I could tell though they were ready to pounce on O’Malley at any moment if he dares as even look me in a wrong way. Once I got close to him everything came rushing back in a blink. I did what I haven’t been able to do in a while now. I let it all out.
I crashed in his arms giving him a hug while the walls that I had managed to pull up came crumbling down salty drops falling from my chin soiling his shirt. He embraced me back with all the warmth and strength he could gather. I could feel relief mixed with anger crossing his veins. ‘I’m so sorry Aurora,’ He sobbed out. He must have been angry that the unfortunate incident dawned on me and he couldn’t do anything. I on the other hand was in pure anger mode. It was bad enough that everything was catching up to me at this moment to top it all off I made him suffer. I would never forgive myself. I really don’t deserve to be alive. I held him closer almost smothering him but I didn’t let go. I couldn’t. I hoped he felt my apology. I hoped we would both be fine. I haven’t touched a man since the incident but with O’Malley it felt different. It was as if I craved his touch. How could anyone suspect him? He would never do anything that despicable. I might have not seen my assailant's face but I knew O’Malley wasn’t cable of such animosity. He was one of the people I trusted.
After the sobs were done ripping through my muscles I let go and turned around to see a lot of questionable faces; my protectors to some officers whom I hadn’t heard coming in. I understood their confusion. I would be too if I was in their position. How could a victim hug his assailant?
‘How…….how…….wait a minute…….how,’ Aaron asked.
‘O’Malley didn’t hurt me,’ I said with much vehemence I could master, ‘He would never do that to me. How could you all think that?’
‘But his name was all you kept saying when we found you?’ Jaden interceded.
‘I know,’ I responded then turned to the police officers, ‘isn’t your job to investigate first? Isn’t one innocent till proved guilty?’ I screamed at them. How could they? I’m sure all they saw was a promotion after catching a wealthy man not caring that by doing that the real assailant would be free. What if he did that to someone else?
‘They why him? Why did you mention his name?’ one of the policemen asked.
I turned to O’Malley who was barely staying awake and asked, ‘What is the name of that guy you were talking to the other day?’ he looked at me confused. I looked at him straight in the eyes hoping he would understand. If I say in front of all these people that he was beating the hell out of him then just to get rid of their guilt they might file new charges on him. I wasn’t about to let that happen. Now more than ever I was sure that he must have had a good reason to do that to him.
‘Marvin.’ That was all he managed to say before he passed out.
- Writer
