The Capitol Building, Henry, 2014
She finishes strong. Not faltering in her accusations, not even in the face of his blatant intimidation. I watch along with the whole world as she stands and walks between the rows of chairs. The president stands, he doesn't hide his look this time. As they both stare at each other equal hate present, the tension palpable. He says something, and so does she. But there are no microphones. No way for the world, or even me, in this moment to know what words were exchanged. He pushes past her hitting her shoulder slightly on his way to the witnesses table. The cameras follow him. I stand from my place next to my daughter needing to see Elizabeth.
"Go dad." I turn to Stevie, who has dried tears on her face. But she is standing. "I'll check on the kids, go to her." I debate it for a few moments but then I find myself jogging down the hall to the hearing room.
The Capitol Building, Elizabeth, 2014
My shoulders feel tighter and tighter as Conrad makes the walk up to the witness table. It's almost like the walk is in slow motion. His political grandstanding leading him to be the most charming person in the world. I feel the veneer of strength I've been wearing crack. The doubt and the fear wriggling its way in-between them. And I watch Conrad start making his case to congress and the American people. The charming denials leaving his mouth along with a polite ordered calming. My palms go sweaty and my jaw clenches. More cracks. He starts accusing me of lying about Iraq. And it shatters. My knees buckle and I find myself in the chair he was previously occupying. Five things I can feel…
"Excuse me, Mr. President, Chairman Hayes." Someone that I don't know interrupts Conrad's posturing and my panic attack rescue drill. He saunters his way up to the congressional panel. And hands the Chairman a folder. My frazzled mind can barely keep up with rapidly changing events taking place in front of me. The eccentric laying out of evidence that fully supports my order of events.
The hand that lays on my shoulder as I watch all of this unfold, does not startle me. I know exactly who it belongs to, the familiar loving and gentle touch that I have missed beyond words. I reach up and take Henry's hand into mine. The panic clears and the words being spoken in the room come into focus. The James Spader wannabe is not letting Conrad get a word in. Document after document, photo after photo. Most of which I flinch at. It's not that I didn't know they existed, after all I was there when they were taken. Henry's hand tightens around mine, as photos taken of me during the rape kit that I was told was destroyed. Out there now for the world to see. For Henry to see. I pull my eyes from them and over to Henry. He isn't looking at them, he is looking at me. He sees me. His face full of love for me. I muster a small smile that he returns.
"Thank you Mr. Barnow. I believe we are ready to vote." The crowd moves to the edge of their seats as the committee unanimously votes to bring the articles of impeachment to the House Floor.
The Capitol Building, Henry, 2014
The room quickly clears as they all make their way to the House Chamber to witness more history. But Elizabeth doesn't move. She remains in the chair, watching him. His face bright red wearing an expression of complete anger. He's ready to explode, pacing the room. There are no more options for him. And he knows it.
Conrad quits pacing and fist connects with the wall. Elizabeth jumps and I squeeze her hand.
"I cannot fucking believe you did this!" he turns to her and makes a fast beeline. I put my body in front of her. But she stands and pushes me to the side. I see a fury in her that I have never seen before.
"I didn't do this, you did." She matches his energy. Her anger rising to the surface.
"Do you really think this will stop me from being able to get to them Bess?" He laughs, the same laugh a supervillain would use.
"It will, I can protect them from you." She sounds sure, more sure than I am in this moment.
"I am the most powerful person in the world." He sounds so sure. A delusional sense grandeur, as he holds onto any last straw of power he can.
"Not for long." She leans in close and whispers. The sound of victory deeply imbedded in her voice. Her fear fully replaced by justified anger. Her fists are clenched and her back is at attention as she tries to make herself look bigger. They are fully engaged in a staring competition, waiting to see who will break first.
The Capitol Building, Elizabeth, 2014
"Mr. President." Conrad's eyes leave mine and find the Secret Service Agent who is interrupting us.
"What." He tries to cover up the frustration, but he can't.
"The house is voting, sir." The giddy feeling I get starts slowly in my toes and then quickly shoots up the rest of my body. It might be a tad too early to start celebrating, but I can feel the end coming. I can feel my life coming back to me. Different than it was before, but maybe fuller than it's ever been. Conrad angrily leaves to watch the vote. But I turn to Henry. He smiles at me, real ad big.
"Do you want to watch the vote?" he asks.
"In a minute." I lean in and give him a small kiss. It's delicate and light, one more leg to go. And then we can leave DC. And we can rebuild, together.