Warning: Salt like water will peak from the abyss of your tear ducts. Just saying.
Tuesday June 4th, 2013
AJ kept her hand tight with Kaitlyn, Stephen and Rose as they sat in the halls of the Hudson City Courthouse. In the room, the evidence was being presented, and her letter to Drew was being read. Afterwards, the DA had to tell her what the Judge would say about the case. She was only allowed to write to him, which she did, not thinking of the impact it would have on her case. Hopefully, it made the judge see how affected her life was by what happened.
Just then, David and Meyers entered the halls, with Phil walking behind him quietly. She jumped up and looked at Phil with complete attention, grabbing his hand quickly and pulling him in.
"What happened? I thought you said this would take all morning?" AJ asked, noticing that Phil, along with the two legal experts, had only been outside for about thirty minutes..
"Well, it seems the process don't need to continue anymore...because it looks like Drew is changing his plea," Meyer stated straight out as a smile itched across her face. AJ's eyes widened in shock as her sister just began to cry. "We may not have to go to trial after all."
"We were in the middle of presentation and he pulled his lawyer away to talk," David explained. "Twenty minutes later, the judge pulled us to the stand and approved a change of plea proposal, and for it to happen right now."
"So, this means that he's going to plead guilty?" Kaitlyn asked, wanting to get crystal clear on what she had just heard.
"Yes. The restraining order will be in force after today, but he will be gone and away from you," Meyers confirmed. "He can't touch or talk to you, nor can you add anything else to the letter or communicate with him."
All this news and information was a welcomed thing for AJ's conscience. But there was still one more matter of things to know about. "Okay. So when's the sentencing?"
"We might have to return for that. But I think the Judge might decide it today based on your statement I read." David informed her.
"Sweetheart, what you wrote…it really got to him," Meyer said with a scoff in her breath. "He seemed really upset to hear what you had to say. But it changed his mind and heart. You just saved your own case."
"Thank god," AJ muttered under her breath. It seemed that this agonizingly long nightmare would, soon enough, finally be over.
"You ready to go in?" Punk asked her as she looked for her sister. They opened the door, seeing Hunter and Stephanie sitting behind the DA. She nodded to them as Punk ushered her to the seat in the middle of the room. She sat down with Punk and Kaitlyn as Hunter approached her.
"You sure you're okay with being in here?" he queried worry in his voice. "You just say the word and…"
"I'm fine, Hunter," AJ interjected and he mouthed 'okay', returning to his seat as the trial started.
April felt her heart stop and her nerves unravel once Drew entered the room, his arms and legs handcuffed and shackled respectively, and his orange jumpsuit brightening the empty side of the room. He looked awful. In fact, he looked worse than awful. He looked like absolute shit. The once slinky looking hair he had looked dry and dusty, and he'd lost the muscular edge and tone he had to his body as well. He looked much smaller and extremely tired. He had a few bruises on his face as well, some of them looking fresher than the others. She kept looking at him and thinking back to the fateful night in question.
His grip was strong, vigorous and painful on her skinny arms. He hauled himself closer to her and kept his eyes locked on her and those eyes trailed up and down her petite body.
While he took his spot next to a lawyer, he glanced at her. She noticed the pain in his eyes. He also looked cold but most of all, he looked pitiful and sorry. She felt Punk tighten his grip on her hand and she turned to him, putting her hands on his lap as she sighed. Thank God he was here. She would be a complete mess right now if not for him. As always, he was supporting her. Her mind still fluttered back and she tried to stop, but looking at Drew just brought back the horror and perversion of that night.
"Why are you getting all the attention? Look at you, you're fucking pathetic! You're not attractive, and you're weak. But you're a star now? You get more attention than I do? That's stupid." She just closed her eyes, hoping that when she opened them, someone would come for her or help her.
"Just remember," her sister reminded her as she leaned over and give her a soft look, offering up to her a small smile. "It's over after this." AJ nodded and the officer walked in, signaling for everyone to stand up.
"Court is now in session, The Honorable Judge Amy Laski presiding." The judge took a seat and put on her glasses, looking at the information handed to her by the clerk.
"Please be seated," she said as everyone sat down. "The defense may stand." After reading more, the judge looked to Drew with a stern face and started. "In the matter of the State v. Galloway, How does the defense plead?"
"Guilty your honor." Drew spoke up and AJ inhaled deeply. Even hearing his voice hurt her again. Everyone pain that shot through her body again.
"Oh, don't worry." He caressed her face while she shook her head violently, and before he could continue, he turned her head and leaned into her ear, saying the worlds that would haunt her forever. "I just want to see what makes you so special."
"And has the counsel reached a settlement?"
"Yes, your honor. The people have agreed to time served on all his charges. Also, Mr. Galloway must enter a state approved rehab effective immediately for 30 days before heading to jail."
The Judge looked at Drew and sighed. "Mr. Galloway, are you aware that by pleading guilty, you lose your right to a trial by a jury of your peers?"
"Yes."
"Do you understand what giving up that right means?"
Drew nodded. "Yes."
"Do you know that you are waiving the right to cross-examine your accusers?"
"Yes."
AJ started to breathe heavy and Punk noticed this, as Rose tightened the grip on her hand as she bit her lip. Punk watched as Drew willingly confessed to everything. He agreed to all his charges and didn't hesitate with his answers. The judge then looked at the paper with a list of the charges against him, and rattled them off one by one.
"Are you pleading guilty because, you in fact, assaulted the victim without legal provocation?"
"Yes."
"Are you pleading guilty because, you in fact, left the victim battered and assaulted without any legal provocation?"
"Yes."
"Are you pleading guilty because, you in fact, sexual assaulted the victim, using violence or the threat of violence to override consent?"
Drew bowed his head and shamefully, and sniffed back some tears while answering, "Yes."
"Are you pleading guilty to the use of AAS and the illegal purchase of the drug?"
"Yes." The judge shook her head as she looked at Drew, in shock that he confessed to everything.
"Mr. Galloway, I have to say, the fact that you came in and pleaded guilty to all this was the right thing to do. Is there anything you wish to express for the records?"
Drew didn't look at AJ when he said it, but she knew what he was telling her. "I am…truly...and deeply sorry," he started out saying, clearing his throat as his voice cracked. "I caused a lot of pain, and I'm sorry for all the hurt and pain I have caused her, as well as those around her who care for her. And I am willing to accept any charges seek fit by the law."
"In that case, Mr. Galloway, you are hereby sentenced to twenty years in state federal prison. I'm adding another fifteen years for the aggravated assault in the second degree, without the possibility of parole in between that time. For the illegal buy and sell, you are hereby sentenced to an additional two years, and you will complete a court-approved rehab program for thirty days in between your sentences."
Once the judge slammed the gravel down, AJ didn't move. She didn't speak, cheer, or cry. All she did was blink at the math. Drew was basically going to jail for thirty-five years. And as he walked away, he didn't look upset about it, nor remorseful about it. He just accepted his fate.
"AJ?"
Everyone was surrounding her as she looked around, seeing them stare at her with concern. Punk was talking to her with a small frown. "Are you okay?" She nodded as he took her hand.
"How do you feel about wrestling tonight? If you want, you can…" Hunter stared to speak, but she shook her head instantly and just smiled.
"I just want to work. I'm ready to go," she assured while holding Punk's hand, saying her goodbyes to Meyers and David and didn't bother saying anything else as they all walked out to a stream of press and reporters hollowing at her.
She knew this was over, but something inside her told her it wasn't.
Not until she had let it all burn out.
"Maybe she just wants to think to herself," Punk guessed as he kept his phone on speaker and chatted with Amy and Colt. He sat around with John, Daniel, Kaitlyn and Sheamus, returning to the hotel suite that night after the Smackdown taping in Uniondale, NY. AJ had her match, won it, and asked to come right back, not willing to hang around anyone else. Up until then, she didn't speak or eat; she just sat on the balcony and did nothing but look out into the sky. Rose was standing with her and talking, but AJ didn't seem to be into the conversation.
"She didn't tell you how she was feeling after the trial?" Amy asked, making Kaitlyn shrug when Punk looked her way.
"No. She didn't react at all to the news."
"I can't believe it's really done," Daniel said. "I mean thank God it is, but I didn't see this happening."
"I just can't believe Drew changed his plea. All from the letter she wrote," Colt spoke up, causing them all to agree as Punk sighed.
"I wonder what's on it," John pondered aloud.
The door knocked and Kaitlyn stood up slowly to answer it. "I'll call you guys back. Later." Punk hung up the phone and smiled when Layla and Kofi entered, hugging everyone and offering support to everyone else in the room. "Hey, what's up? We got a call from AJ to come down here," Layla mentioned.
Punk shook his head with confusion, looking at the door as the balcony door opened, and AJ walked in with Rose.
"Punk?" Rose called out. While Punk stood up with everyone, she nodded to the paper in his hand. "She wants the letter. Hers and Drew's." Punk just glanced at her confused. "She wants everyone to hear it…and then we are going to burn it," Rose confirmed. "It's the best way to let it go."
"You sure?" Punk asked with his head tilted to AJ, trying to gauge something, anything out of her to try and guess how she was doing. She didn't look at him at all, she just nodded. Sighing in defeat, he then looked to his bag, taking out the old crumpled paper that had been stashed in his bag for months. She looked at him with glossy eyes as he slowly passed it to her. Once she held on to it, her black polished nails traced over the back of it, looking for a clean and steady way to open it.
AJ walked outside and everyone followed, huddling together as Punk placed a bucket in the center. He stood on the opposite side of her as she ripped it open. She glanced over it, only to shake her head and fold it back up. After that, she took out a small paper from her pocket and Punk just looked at her, watching her open it.
"I wrote this for him. Dr. Grey told me I should write my feelings out. But I didn't think it would change his mind…" She shook her head with little resolve. She stood tall and opened her paper, looking to everyone with a weak smile before reading what was on the paper.
"Drew,
June 17th 2012. That's a night that's more than just another PPV Sunday. It's not just Father's Day, nor is it the night I made my return to the Garden State. It's a night that forever changed my life.
You changed my life. The only issue with that is that I never asked you to. But somehow, I was the target of your sick and depraved attack. I don't understand what qualified me to be on the receiving end of this treatment. What did I do to you? You can't even tell me why because you honestly don't have a reason. You used me as a punching bag for your frustration and anger. You hit me repeatedly, kicked me down and while I was down, you verbally spat on my character and my humanity without any logical reason. I spent the moments it happened crying on the inside and out, begging you to stop there and just leave me alone. I just wanted to get up and run, and you didn't let me.
Instead, you used your six foot five body and weighted me down, held me back, and then, just when I thought you would end my life, you just took away part of my innocence. You violated me. You raped me."
AJ inhaled, moving her hair from her face as everyone just remained silent and listened. She continued on firmly.
"I stared at this clock on the nightstand as you forced your body mass on my 107 pound petite frame, and you had sex with me. But it wasn't me having sex with you, nor did we share a one night stand. It was all you and I watched the time go by very slowly as you kept going. I screamed for it to be over, I begged you to stop. But you didn't. You even looked me in the eyes as you continued on. I could see that the humble, noble person I met on my first day in the company just wasn't there. You changed, and you didn't care how much it hurt me. You just kept going."
"This is usually the part where I tell you I hate you. That I would call you a gutless, senseless, no good piece of fucking shit, and wish that you would die or rot in jail for the rest of your life, only for you to burn in Hell forever more. That your face haunts me every night in my sleep, or that you ruined my life. And how I can't eat, sleep or look outside to see the sun because I'm so afraid to even look at the ones I love. I should say that I will never trust again, that you're a sick, cruel, evil human being, and I will forever let that night haunt me."
"But I'm not. I'm not going to torture you by lying. The truth is, I have been through worst already. I grew up with nothing. My life was surreal as a youth, and I've seen things you've only watched in films and read in books. I've had people turn their backs on me, and step on me harder than you ever could. People have hurt me with words, and I've had people use me with my emotions before. You just did it in the most heartless way possible."
"My sanity was almost ruined by you. But in the end, it wasn't. I don't want to be the victim anymore, and I refuse to show weakness after what you did. I thank God every single day that people found me that night, and afterwards, made sure I didn't lose myself. I know who my real friends are and who truly cares for me, on and off the road. Those who only looked to me with sorrow are not kept at a far distance, but I've learned to accept those who do want my friendship and those who believe in me."
AJ finally cracked a smile after, looking at Kaitlyn, who let her tears fall under Sheamus' arms, and Layla, who was nodding assuredly with Daniel and John beside her.
"When most victims would run away from love or a relationship, I actually found a great one." She paused at that moment, watching Punk look up at her with a nonchalant eye.
"I really found love in hopeless place, and I love him. I almost didn't let him because of you, but he's been helping me remain grounded ever since that night. We would have never been brought together and I would have never learned to trust and love again if it weren't for him. I truly know that love is being with someone through the good and horrid. And what a respectful man really is. All because of him."
"You pushed me down, but I bounced right back up. Now, I feel stronger than ever before. I work myself to the bone to become better and become well again, and this is just the beginning. I plan on climbing higher and reaching for my stars until I touch them all. I want to have a clean and bright future, but I can't do that if I hold on to the past. I want to show others who have been through what I've been through that they should stand up and not down."
She choked on the last few words, rubbing her nose as Punk walked up to her and pulled her close.
"I don't know if you're truly sorry for all the pain and hurt you caused me. I don't know if you confessed because you know what you did was wrong, and I don't know if you hurt me just to make yourself feel better, or if you regret doing it at all. But, even through all of that...I forgive you, Drew. Yes…I do…forgive you."
After AJ said that, they watched her sigh deeply as she finish reading with shaky hands.
"And I hope you do what's right. I won't be the one whispering the word guilty in your ears and into your mind. You've had that voice in your head since you did what you did. So listen to it, and hopefully, someday, your nightmares will end the way mine did."
Everyone just stood silent as she let the paper open, then as Rose stuck a match to light, AJ brought the paper to it, and they watched it set a fire quickly. AJ gazed at it quickly, and then dropped it into the water based bucket as it burned.
Waving Drew's Letter high, she shook her head and said, "He didn't even apologize to me privately. All he did was back his reasons for doing what he did. He just said he was sorry it was me. I made him plead guilty for all of this, and he agreed, just so he could feel like he did the right thing. As if this makes him a better person," she shook her head and spat in complete anger.
Punk tried to hug her but she quickly pushed him away. "No, Phil. Don't. I already feel weak again, hurt and upset. Hugging me is just going to make me cry and break down and he doesn't get that. He doesn't. I won't let him have that," she stubbornly stated.
"I already forgave him. I'm not going to cry about it," AJ continued on as she placed the paper of the fire, letting it burn and saying, "I just want to close this case. Or let it burn in this case." She threw the paper into the burning fire and watched it burn with everyone.
She didn't even read the rest of it. She'll never know what the rest of the letter said. She just saw the four piece of paper burn to ash. Then, she hurled the letter she wrote along with it. Everyone just watched with her, not saying a word.
Soon, she felt a familiar set of arms wrap themselves around her neck and waist. She grabbed onto them, burying her mouth and nose into his blue sweatshirt sleeve and slowly letting her tears fall onto it. Punk then pulled her closer and hugged her tighter. She felt so protected at the moment. It felt so right for him to be close to her. "You need to let it out, April."
"But you'll hate seeing me like this," she mumbled out while shaking her head, trying to keep the tears in.
"I know. But now that this is all over, you need to let it go. It's fine for right now," he whispered with his cheek against hers.
"Just let it go,.Let...it...go..."
And after those words, April did in fact let it go. What started out as quiet weeping soon nestled into outright wailing, as all of the bottled up hurt, anger and emotion slowly released itself. Phil listened to her as she started crying again, sobbing at full volume and letting her body go weak in his arms. Rose, along with Kaitlyn and Layla, started crying also and soon, the rest of the group circled around her also before joining in the hug, enclosing her in loving warmth with Phil rubbing her back for comfort. He knew everyone was watching as she kept crying and he didn't care. He was her protector, and he was going to do anything to keep her safe when she needed it.
She proved she was strong enough to move on after today, and he was going to do all he could to keep her on the right track.
This has to be the most emotional chapter yet, which is why I used it towards the end. I did plan this after the WM chapter, but I wanted things to be complete for AJ before this happened. I hope you guys love it because writing the letter made me cry.
I want to thank you all for your input, support and love through the chapters. ConchaaRex, DoubleDee068, Raiden519, eve505, Sam Cuddles (your reviews made me laugh so hard. Thanks for even catching up dear.), xLifeFullOfLaughterx, and Red Foxie: thank you all for reading and reviewing. Maize is awesome for reading this over and he's sad that he won't be able to look over this story after it's done.
With only 2 chapters left, AJ looks at her life and what has changed a year later. How will she deal with it, along with everyone else.
Till Next time, Besos *