So this chapter is pretty short, but I think you'll like it! Hope everyone is having a great Saturday :)
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Tori's POV
I sat there next to my lawyer with my palms sweating. My heart was vibrating in my chest and I felt like I wanted to throw up. I was so nervous; I just wished the jury would come up with their decision already.
It took me three years before I could get up and testify again. This time, I didn't have a flashback and I didn't pass out. I was asked question after question after question for almost two hours and by the end of the almost-two hours, I had told everyone everything that the man did to me. I heard countless gasps from the jury all throughout. At one point, I even heard Trina start crying as I was detailing my six months of hell with this man.
Finally, the judge walked up to his stand and stood up with a paper in his hand. He cleared his throat and spoke clearly in the microphone. "The jury has found that the defendant, Michael David Jenson, is…guilty of the kidnap and torture of Victoria Marie Vega. He is being charged with abuse, sexual assault, and attempted murder. He is sentenced to life in prison."
The only people that were disappointed were the man's lawyer and the man himself. They quickly got up and walked out without a glance at anyone. Everyone else jumped up and celebrated, including me. My family ran over to me and they attacked me with hugs. I was so overwhelmed that I started crying. I was so happy that the man would be locked in prison for the rest of his life. It's where he belonged.
After hugging my family, Andre emerged from behind them. I had asked him to be here for this and he agreed; he now knew everything that the man did to me. Seeing his face when I explained the most horrible things the man did to me was painful. While talking about the times that man raped me, Andre had looks of horror on his face. While talking about the time the man had thrown a piece of glass in my leg, he couldn't even look at me. He covered his eyes with his hand and looked at the ground. When he finally looked up, he had tears running down his cheeks.
I smiled at him. "Hi Andre,"
He shook his head and then engulfed me in a huge hug. I tightly wrapped my arms around him. "I cannot tell you how much I want to kill that man. It took everything I had not to attack him. Your mom even had to calm me down."
I let out something between a sob and a giggle. "I love you so much."
When we came out of the hug, we gave each other a quick kiss. Then he grabbed my face and said quietly, "Tori…the things you went through with him…I can't…I can't even imagine. I can't believe while everyone here was so worried for you and looking for you, you were with that man…putting up with all that…that…torture from hell. Oh, my God, Tori. You are the strongest person in the world."
I burst into tears at his words. "Andre," I mumbled and collapsed against him and just cried in his chest. He held me tightly in his arms. "It was hell, Andre. It was…I can't…I just…"
"Shh," he said as he ran his hand over my hair. "Shh, it's okay, baby, it's okay; it's over. I've got you." The words "it's over now" or "you're safe now" were the things that Andre told me the most when I was crying because of those painful memories. He will never know how I happy I am to hear those words each time.
Once I finally recovered a few minutes later, to lighten the mood, Andre said, "I can't believe that evil man could help create such a beautiful little angel. I'm not kidding, Tori, Jadelynne is so sweet, so beautiful, so precious, and just so amazing. I love your little girl so much."
I started crying again after hearing those words. But these were happy tears and I was smiling hardcore. "That is honestly the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. And I wish Jadelynne was your daughter so much." I told him that all the time.
He nodded and smiled. "Me too," That was always his response.