May 1st, 2006
I'm not sure how I feel about this, going to court anyways. Also, I don't know how I feel about my attorney looking in my diary, but if he's helping me get away from the madness at home, I trust him. I'm just worried about talking about my so-called life at home; in front of my dad, my step-mother and Casey. Not to mention that their defense attorney might cross-examine me. Great...
I just wish things looked up for once...
Mr.Desgraso was a bald and chubby man who represented Danielle in the family court hearing. As he was reading Danielle's journal entries, she couldn't help but to get nervous. After the journal entries, she would have to tell the truth about everything that happened to her since Casey left for college. Danielle knew that she wasn't ready to speak up in trial.
"That is all, your honor" Mr.Desgraso said as he put her diary down on the table "Now I would like to have my first witness take the stand."
Danielle slowly got up from her seat and walked to the stand. She sat down, not knowing what to expect. She saw her dad and her step-mother, and couldn't wonder if this was a mistake. Then she looked at Casey, and saw that she was looking back with her sympathetic green eyes.
"Danielle, when did your father marry your step-mother?" he asked, trying to stand in the way so Danielle couldn't look at her dad and step-mother.
"When I was five"
"Was there any issues before then?"
"No" Danielle replied.
"When did the issues in the household start?"
Danielle didn't want to say anything. She felt like she couldn't breathe as she looked at Casey. Casey gave her a sympathetic look, that was telling Danielle "It's okay, I'm here for you." Danielle sighed as she answered the question.
"All the issues started happening when I started middle school" Danielle replied.
"And what was happening when you were in middle school?"Mr.Degraso asked.
"I guess I wasn't good enough for my parents" Danielle said "I was getting A's and B's in middle school, but it wasn't good enough for them."
"And what would they do?"
"My step-mother mostly screamed at me, saying that I should be getting straight A's in all my classes and that she'd make my life a living hell if I didn't."
"And what would your dad do?"
"He wouldn't do anything" Danielle said. Casey could see the tears in her eyes.
"Did your step-mother ever hurt you?"
Danielle stayed quiet for a minute, but then she started to cry when she told her story.
"I was eleven" Danielle said, starting her story "My step-mother was yelling at me, telling me that I need to get my act together or she'd take me out of all my activities. I told her that I was doing the best I can and that no one is perfect. Then she pushed me to the ground and threw the coffee table at me…"
"Did you have to go to the hospital?" Mr.Degraso asked. Casey was shocked to hear this story from Danielle's mouth.
"Yes, I did .I had a few broken ribs, a lot of bruising, and a broken left wrist."
"Was this the only time your step-mother abused you like this?"
"No"
