Breaking Free

Trigger Warning: This story contains scenes of domestic violence, and physical and emotional abuse. The main character was in an abusive relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who hurt her both physically and mentally. The story also depicts the main character's struggle to escape from the abuse and find love and healing with another person. If you are sensitive to these topics, please read with caution. If you are experiencing domestic violence or need help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit their website. You are not alone, and you deserve to be safe and happy.

Chapter 27

BELLA

I dreaded getting back on the stand, but I knew my testimony was pivotal to the DA. And if I didn't continue, Christopher might go free. For my sake, I couldn't let that happen. I was fighting, like I knew I should have done the night he attacked me.

Edward helped me into the bulletproof vest. It was heavy to me at eight pounds. I was not used to carrying so much weight on my shoulders. In college, I preferred to use a rolling bag.

Edward kissed my cheek. I longed for him to place his lips upon mine, however I knew he wouldn't again. At least, not until I was free on Christopher.

"Take a breath, Bella," Edward whispered.

It was then I realized I was holding it, to prevent myself from breaking down.

"Bella," he said, shaking me. "Breathe."

I took a shaky breath.

~~~~ Breaking Free ~~~

"Miss Swan, after you came around from Christopher's beating, what did you do?" Mr. Tuts asked, giving me a warm smile.

I swallowed hard and rubbed my palms on my skirt, trying to steady my nerves. "I wasn't sure what time it was, but I knew I needed help. So, I left my apartment, clutching my side. I somehow made it down to Edward's apartment. I pounded on his door before I passed out again."

"And when you woke again, where were you?" The DA turned toward the jury, his voice gentle and compassionate.

My eyes moved to Mr. Tuts, to the jury. Mr. Tuts was facing me. "In the hospital," I answered simply.

"Can you tell the court and the jury what your injuries were?"

"Contusions to my ribs, stomach, and right thigh. Three cracked ribs, along with cuts and bruises on my face."

"Any unseen injuries?" Mr. Tuts asked, his expression concerned.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, fighting back the tears. "Yes. I have trouble sleeping due to the nightmares. I'm afraid to go to work and have been working from home until recently."

He raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean by until recently? Were you let go?"

I smiled weakly. Carleen was sitting with Rose and Edward. "No. I was given leave to heal both physically and mentally."

Mr. Tuts nodded. "I see. Would you classify your mental injury as post-traumatic stress disorder?"

I thought about that for a moment. PTSD was defined as experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as violence. I had definitely experience violence, brutal violence. "Yes."

"Thank you, Ms. Swan. Your honor, I have no further question for this witness at this time."

~~~ Breaking Free ~~~

The ten minute break went by fast. I was able to escape to the restroom and splashed water on my face. I was back on the stand, facing the defense attorney.

He looked bored and impatient, as if he had better things to do than defend Christopher. But he seemed smart enough to play the game. He'd only objected once and had a weak argument as to why I shouldn't answer a question. I wondered what questions he had for me. Even Jessica couldn't guess at them. All she told me was to not answer without thinking about the questions.

"Ms. Swan, I want to confirm some information with you. Your said your father is a cop. Is that correct?" he asked, standing a good distance from the witness box and the jury box.

"I frowned, puzzled by his question. What did my father have to do with anything? "Yes," I answered.

"Further you stated that he taught you how to collect evidence, right?"

Oh, he going to try to use the knife against me. Not going to happen mister. "That's correct."

He smiled. I didn't like it. It seemed calculated, sinister. The only thing missing was the maniacal laughter and music that foreshadowed impeding doom. "Would it be safe to say he taught you other police procedure?"

He went where I thought he would. He thought I fabricated evidence. Planted the knife. "No, it would not."

He shook his head. He hadn't been expecting that answer. "Care to explain what you mean."

I looked to the DA and counted to fifteen. When no objection came, I answered. "While my father taught me how to collect evidence, it was for a high school project. It did not go further than that. Evidence collection only."

Again, he leered at me. "Which class was this project for and its nature?"

"Government Class. We were doing a mock-trial. The teacher wanted it to be as real as it could be. She assigned some as criminal analysts. We worked under my father's supervision to collect the evidence."

His smile hitched a little higher on one side. "Could you use that information to fabricate evidence?"

I wanted to object to the question, but the DA saved me from answering when he did what I couldn't.

"Objection, your honor. Relevance," Mr. Tuts said.

I could see the relevance, but I sat there, waiting.

"Ms. Swan just testified she learned to collect evidence in high school, your honor," the defense attorney argued.

I turned and looked at the judge. He was leaning forward and seemed interested.

Mr. Tuts continued the argument. "There is no evidence to suggest someone fabricated evidence."

The judge lifted his hand, stopping whatever the defense attorney was going to say. "Mr. Tuts has a point. Sustained. The jury will disregard the question."

"When was the last time you used the knifes, Ms. Swan?" the defense attorney asked. I could hear the frustration in his voice. Maybe he did care about getting Christopher off. That wasn't going to happen.

"I never used them."

"Never washed them?"

"No."

"Touched them?"

"No."

The defense attorney sneered at me. "That's very convenient, Ms. Swan. Don't you think?" he asked.

Oh, I knew what was coming.

"Objection," Mr. Tuts said, jumping to his feet. "The Defense is inserting his opinion."

"Sustained. The jury will disregard what the Defense has just said."

More frustration was showing in the defense attorney's voice as he asked, "Ms. Swan, who gave you the knives?"

I thought for a moment. "They were a gift from the previous tenant."

"And how is it that you never touched them?" he steepled his hands in front of his face.

"They were already in the block and in the ideal location in the kitchen," I said in a bored, calm voice. How many times was he going to ask the same freaking question?

"Ever us them?" he asked.

I wanted to throw up my hands and call him a damn idiot. Again, the DA came to my aid.

"Objection. Asked and answered."

"Sustained," the judge declared.

The defense attorney looked like a dog with its tail between its legs. Then he said, "Your honor, I have no further questions for Ms. Swan."

The judge turned to me and gave me a gentle smile. He said, "Ms. Swan you may step down. Thank you for your testimony. You may take a seat in the galley."

I was hoping I would be free to go. However, Rose stood and gave me a hug before whispering in my ear, "The DA would like you to stay. He told me the next witness has damning evidence that strengthens your story."

I nodded as I took a seat beside Edward. He took hold of my hand.

"The prosecution would like to call Annie Brooks to the stand," Mr. Tuts said.

Who the was she? I turned and looked at Christopher. He paled.

"Objection. We were not notified of this witness," the defense attorney said, standing.

Mr. Tuts glanced over at the idiot.

"Your honor, I provide the defense an updated witness list Friday night."

The defense attorney shuffled through some papers. "Crap," he mouthed as the judge asked if he had it.

"Yes, your honor." He hung his head.

"Bailiff, escort Miss Brooks into the courtroom."

Jessica stood and brought out the monitor screen. She situated it so everyone could see.

The doors opened in walked the woman that was in my bed the night Christopher beat me up. I squeezed Edward's hand.

He leaned over. "Trust Mr. Tuts, Bella," he whispered.

"Miss Brooks, how do you know the defendant?"

She didn't move her head or eyes in Christopher's direction. "Chris Blackwood was my lab partner in Chemistry. He invited me over to his place to have sex."

I wished I could see Mr. Tuts face. "And was it his place?"

"No."

"Did he have a key?"

"No," Miss Brooks replied.

Mr. Tuts cupped his chin. "Then how did you both get in?"

She hung her head for a moment. When she looked up, she had tears in her eyes. "He made me pretend to be someone named Isabella Swan. He had me tell the landlord that I locked myself out."

I wanted to jump up and ask what was wrong with her. Edward tightened his grip momentarily halting me.

"Why did you do it?" Mr. Tuts asked.

She looked out at me, and I could see how scared she was. After a moment, she squared her shoulders, and said, "Chris has this magnetic charisma. You'll do anything to be near him. At least that is what I told myself that night."

"And now?"

It took her a long moment to answer. "I'm terrified of him."

Mr. Tuts took a step toward the witness box. "Why?" he asked.

Her glance moved to Christopher. "I saw him beat up Isabella Swan. Heard what he said to her."

"And what did Christopher say?" the DA asked.

She met my eyes again. I knew what she was going to say. The words that haunted my dreams. The words I wasn't sure Christopher said to me.

"He said he could easily slit her throat and put an end to her pitiful existence. He wanted to shatter her so completely that no man will ever want her," Miss Brooks said still staring at me.

"Objection, hearsay," the defense attorney said, jumping to his feet.

Mr. Tuts seemed to be expecting this. "Your honor, the persecution gave a link to the video to the defense of Christopher holding a knife to Ms. Swan's throat, saying exactly that. If it would please the court, I would like to play a part of the video."

The judge glanced briefly at the defense attorney before saying, "Overruled. Please play the video."

I couldn't believe the video. You could clearly make out who each person was and hear what was said.

"You fucking bitch," Christopher shouted, jumping to his feet and moving toward Miss Brooks. "You stole my SD card. No wonder I couldn't find it, so I could destroy the fucking evidence. I should have killed you both that night, then I wouldn't be in the fucking mess."

It took three bailiff's to subdue Christopher. The judge banging his gavel the whole time. The defense attorney just sat there … stunned. His client just confessed in front of a jury of his peers.

Christopher was lead out of the room, in a pair of handcuffs.

The judge addressed Mr. Tuts. "Any further questions?"

"No, the prosecution rests."

"Mr. Jones, any witnesses you wish to call?"

Ah, that was the other attorney's name. He made of show of flipping a few pages of his notebook. "No, your honor."

Picking up his gavel again, the judge banged it. "We are in recess until 1:30, then we will proceed with closing arguments."