FALSE CONFIDENCE

Monica banged on Ross and Rachel's door. "Ross, I know you're in there, I can see the lights on underneath your door! I know it's your day off from work today. Open up!" Ross sat mutely on the couch, ignoring her.

"You haven't answered any of my calls, you ignore all my emails. I've been really worried about you. For God sakes, I'm your sister, open up!" Ross opened the door reluctantly. Monica threw her arms around her big brother. Ross returned the hug half-heartedly.

"Ross, what's the matter with you? Why are you so distant? Why have you been avoiding me?" Monica demanded.

"Mon, I love you, I do; but I just can't deal with you right now," Ross muttered.

"Deal with me? What's that supposed to mean?"

"You think Emma is lying, don't you?"

"No, of course not, when have I ever said that?" Monica asked, bewildered.

"But you think Chandler is innocent."

"Yes, I do."

"So you think my daughter is a liar."

"No, why are you putting words into my mouth?"

"Well either Chandler stabbed her, or Emma's lying. Which is it, Mon?"

"Look, neither, okay? She's just a kid, she's probably confused."

"Confused? She's not confused! Rachel and I have asked her a million times, in a million different ways how she got hurt; and she has consistently told us without pause or hesitation that Chandler stabbed her, so don't give me this, 'she's just a kid, she's probably confused' condescending bullshit!"

"Ross, she's four years old, children that age can get confused."

"Don't tell me a four year old child can't tell whether a person stabbed her with a knife or not! It's not algebra, it's a physical attack, a knife wound!"

"The hell are you yelling for? Why can't you acknowledge the possibility that Chandler might be innocent?"

"Because I'm Emma's father! Because it is my duty to stand by her side, to protect her, to give her the benefit of the doubt, no matter what the cost is, and to believe her when she tells me someone has hurt her; even if it means believing my friend is a murderer!"

"Ross, your duties as a father have nothing to do with Chandler's guilt or innocence, it's-"

"Look Mon, it killed me when I saw how hurt and betrayed Emma looked when Rach and I didn't believe her immediately, so we're not going to make that mistake again."

"So now what? You're going to let your parental duties send an innocent man to prison?"

"You don't know he's innocent. It's his word against hers. And if we're drawing lines in the sand, if it's a choice between believing my child and my best friend, I sure as hell am choosing my child!"

"That's right Ross, he's your best friend! You're hanging your best friend out to dry, don't you forget that!"

"Get out."

"What? Ross…"

"I can't do this, Mon. Just get out of my house. Please."

Hurt and angry, Monica stormed out of the house without another word, slamming the door behind her. Ross collapsed onto the couch, burying his face in his hands, feeling terribly guilty for hurting his sister, and completely overwhelmed by Emma's allegations against Chandler.

Dressed in his orange jumpsuit, Chandler pressed his hand against the glass barrier, meeting Monica's hand on the other side. "You don't believe I hurt her, do you, Mon?" Chandler asked softly, scared to death of what Monica might say.

"No. I never have, and I never will. Not for a moment." Monica replied emphatically.

Chandler closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the barrier, relief flooding into his heart. Ever since the prosecutor played the Emma's testimony in court, he had been terrified the love of his life would believe he was a monster.

"There's an explanation for this, Emma must be confused. I mean, she's been through so much trauma and she's only 4 years old. We'll find a way to prove your innocence, you've just got to keep your spirits up and believe, as I do, that you're going to be okay. You trust me, right, Chandler?"

"Yes I do, Mon, completely."

"Then trust me when I say, I'm getting you out of here. Our kids aren't gonna grow up without their father."

Monica spoke with all the hope and conviction she did not feel. She believed wholeheartedly in Chandler's innocence, but ever since she saw the video, she felt a sudden loss of control. She was beginning to seriously worry Chandler might not come out of this okay. All along she had been relying on Emma to exonerate Chandler, but now the child was incriminating him. Emma's testimony had been Monica's long-awaited trump card, but now that it was gone, she felt lost, helpless and frightened.

Monica's brother and parents were disdainful about her unwavering loyalty to Chandler. It made her feel terribly lonely and isolated. Just last week, her mother had exclaimed at her, "I can't believe you're choosing Chandler over your own niece. She's your flesh and blood!" In front of Chandler, Monica worked overtime to present a façade of confidence. She couldn't afford to let Chandler lose hope. But behind closed doors, when Jack and Erica were fast asleep, Monica sat alone in the bathroom and wept.