Marilyn knew that today was different. Her lawyer had been preparing her for weeks, reminding her that her trial was coming up. So she wasn't surprised when she was handed a hanger with a plain black dress and jacket to change into.
The courtroom was much grander in Philadelphia than it had been in Sacramento, but she couldn't bring herself to care much at all. She'd long since given up on the anticipation, never getting her hopes up to see Petey again after they'd been crushed too many times to count.
As she sat there, she heard other people come in, and was finally made to stand for the Judge. Words washed over her head, like everyone else was an adult in a Charlie Brown cartoon. Hours passed.
The day passed.
It was the second day already before anything changed.
"I'd like to call Blaine Anderson to the stand," the other lawyer said.
Marilyn still didn't look up. She felt the swirling, sloshing in her head and knew that the pills were working because she couldn't feel anything else. She didn't know who this Blaine Anderson was, probably some other expert called in to testify that what she knew in her heart was wrong.
They swore the witness in, and then the lawyer began speaking.
"Can you please tell the court who you are?"
"Um, my name is Blaine Anderson –" her head shot up at those words. She knew that voice. "– but I grew up thinking my name was Peter Walker."
Her eyes found his. They were as deep and sweet as ever. But now there was something new, something scared and broken, and he looked away from her after only a moment.
He wasn't her Peter anymore, not since he'd been taken back from her.