Sanctuary - Side 2

Today's the beginning of the trial, and although I was somehow prepared and put together, I don't know if I could say that about Abby. I saw her sitting on our bed with her in her hands which prompted me to ask her a stupid question.

“Abby. You okay?” I asked, placing my hands on her shoulder.

She gave me a look.

“Of course not. Stupid question.”

“I feel like I’m gonna puke. I don't even know how I ate breakfast this morning or if I’ll be able to keep it down.”

“Anything I can do?”

“Not really. Just be by my side.”

“I can do that.” I said smiling.

“I love you, Alex.”

“I love you, Abby.”

I kissed her and pressed my forehead against hers.

“We should go, if you're ready, that is.”

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Ok.”

I gently took her hand and she rose off the bed, picking up her house and headed out the door. She could not bring herself to drive to the courthouse knowing she would not be able to focus on the way there, especially if she wasn't feeling right. We walked hand-in-hand with her close tightly into mine as she didn't want to let go. We sat down in the courtroom on the opposite side of his. She buried her head in my neck, so I assumed her rapist was walking into the courtroom. I looked his way and then pressed my lips to her head.

“You saw him?” she asked.

“Unfortunately.” I said angrily.

I paused.

“Oh, and you’re right. He doesn’t have anything on me.”

She let out a laugh.

“A little conceited. Don’t you think?”

“Yeah, but I see no problem in it.”

“Neither do I.”

A moment later, the bailiff asked everyone in the courtroom to rise for the judge and then the judge spoke once he walked in himself and sat down.

“Good morning ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to call the case of the People of the State of California vs. Lawrence
Mars. Are both parties ready to proceed?”

Now, you don’t hear a name like everyday, do you? And it just happens to belong to a piece of shit like him.

Once everybody sat back down, he took a quick look at Abby and she squeezed my hand even harder.

“Your honor, I would like to give the jury an overview of the case I’d like to present. It’s a case of a young woman who just having a night of celebration with her friends, celebrating her friend’s birthday along with her new job. Toward the end of the night, she was followed, make that stalked the victim and attacked her in one of the worst ways possible. She was sexually violated and will never get that innocence back…”

I hated hearing this, but what I would hear next, I would hate even more.

“Your honor, I can’t imagine what this woman was thinking, but I know that there are women who love it rough and this sounds exactly what happened between my client was exactly that and consensual I must add.”

When he was asked if he was pleading guilty or not guilty, he proudly pleaded not guilty which disgusted both of us.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“I’m feeling like I wanna rip that smug look off of his fucking face.”

“You and me both.”

She was hot and sweaty on top of this making her look completely miserable.

“Yeah. Let’s get you into the air conditioning.”

She continued to hold my hand until we got to my car. She burst out in tears when she got in and hit the dashboard before she put her head in her hands like this morning.

“Abby.” I asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She was breathing heavily.

“Can we please go home?”

She didn't even look at me.

“Of course.”

I put the car into drive and we left. She walked into our house and headed straight toward our bedroom; she collapsed onto the bed and buried her head in her pillow. I crawled onto the bed and next to her.

“I love you.” I whispered.

I didn't know what else to say.

“I love you, too. Will you take a nap with me?”

“I always will.”

She smiled.

“Hold me.”

She turned onto her side and I wrapped my arms around her body once I turned onto my side; I was willing to do anything to help her feel better and holding her was something I always want to do.

“Alex, you awake?” she whispered.

“Yeah. How long?”

“For a couple of minutes. I know this may sound creepy, but I couldn't fathom leaving you by yourself.”

“I wanted you here when I woke up.”

She turned around and faced me, looking straight into my eyes.

“Do you realize how much you mean to me?” she asked me.

I shook my head.

“You mean the world to me and I don’t know what I’d do without you quite honestly, especially in this horrendous situation I’m in that I wouldn’t wish on anybody. Thanks for being my anchor, Alex.”

I blushed.

“I couldn’t imagine life without you. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met and as you hate being vulnerable now, it’s one of the worst situations anyone could possibly be in and you’re allowed to feel that way. Hell, I don’t know how I’d even handle it. You’re amazing, Abby Shaw.”

She crashed my lips onto mine and I certainly responded.

“Can I tell you something? Well, a few things actually.” she asked.

“Of course.”

“Actually, just one. Those other two things are about what happened today and I’d rather talk about something that is positive. That other shit can fucking wait.”

“What is this positive thing you wish to talk about?”

She laughed.

“It happened on the day I had a panic attack. I was getting dressed when I heard singing in the kitchen; it was you, of course and I'd rather play it actually.”

“You recorded it?”

“Here.” she said once I found the clip.

I thought back to the day I was singing Hallelujah and smiled.

“I can’t believe you caught that moment.”

There was a look of wonder on my face.

“I love that song and hearing you sing it made it that much more wonderful and special.”

She had tears in her eyes and I wiped them away.

“Mind if I post it? On YouTube?” she asked.

“You can post it on our page or Fueled by Ramen if you’d like.“

“I could?”

“You wouldn’t mind?”

“Of course not, but if you don't, let me know.”

“I’ll let you know. Can I play it again?” she asked excitedly.

“Go right ahead.”

We moved so we were sitting next to each other and she pressed play.

Notes