Fate

Chapter 21

Skye

“Your Honor may I speak?” My voice was shaking. The judge looked at me, a ghost of a smile on her lips. “Go ahead.” I put my hands flat on the podium, grounding myself before I deigned to speak.

“Your Honor I have nowhere to go if I am banned from my home. I moved here because of him. My mom doesn’t live in the state. I pay for the apartment in totality. I paid for everything in the apartment as well. I have severe panic attacks and anxiety and my dog is my registered ESA. It’s true we were discussing divorce but I did not put my hands on him. I know you have the pictures in front of you, but those were last night. They are worse today. I haven’t slept because he punched me so hard in my head that I have a concussion.” I pulled my turtleneck down showing the bruising on my neck. “I thought I was going to die last night. It’s clear my marriage is over and after what he did, I will not fight that. I will not let him call himself a victim when this is not the first time he puts his hands on me, only the first time he got caught. He is having an affair after we lost our child. I want nothing to do with him anymore.”

Chris put a hand on my shoulder. He probably sensed I was on the verge of tears by the panic that laced every word. The judge looked at me, I couldn’t quite read her emotion. She looked to the state attorney. He sat down, letting a hand run over his face. Weak men couldn’t handle a battered woman and always shrunk. The judge cleared her throat. “I’m ready to make my ruling.” I started to tense up, Rex nuzzled into my thigh.

“Miss Conti, I will not order a protective order against you stating that you cannot go home. It is clear by the evidence given to me that you were not the aggressor. The arresting officer clearly did not look into the situation enough. Since I am obligated to put some type of protective order to be agreeable to the state’s case, I am only going to require that you refrain from interactions with him that are not obligatory. You stated you accept that your marriage is over. You also stated a history or mental illness, are you in therapy?” She met my eyes. I nodded my head. “Good,” She continued. “Continue with the therapy. Let him go. Find yourself and do not ever let a man put his hands on you again. Do you understand?” I swallowed, holding back the tears. “Yes, Your Honor.”

She nodded her head. “Good. Attorney Conti, does your client wish to press charges?” My uncle, Marco Conti, shook his head. “No, Your Honor. She does not wish to waste the courts time on a frivolous man.” The judge smirked, nodded and turned to the State’s attorney. “Tell your client what the verdict is and the case will not be eligible to be re-opened.” The attorney nodded his head. Defeated. Finally she looked at Chris. “Sergeant, I suggest you speak to the arresting officer. Thank you for coming to my court for defense.” He squeezed my arm. “My pleasure, Your Honor.” She hit the gavel down, “Case dismissed.”

I turned to walk back to my seat, the victim advocate passed by me, gently touching my elbow and whispering, “Come with me.” I followed her out of the courtroom to a private hallway. “My name is Bree. I am currently your husband's victim advocate, but he shouldn’t have one. It’s clear the wrong person was arrested here. While the Judge was reviewing the case and evidence, so was I. I want you to contact my co-worker Sheriden. She works with women who are in domestic violence situations. I wish I could work with you but legally I cannot. Get away from him quickly. Next time he won’t stop.” She pressed a card into my hand. “Good luck Skye.” I nodded at her. Unable to speak.