Another piece of Creative writing that I did for my English class. We had to write from first person, and write on the topic of sacrifice. We also had to include at least 1 flashback... This is one of my favorites from this year.
The silence made me look up, and I saw 5 blurred faces staring at me. I couldn’t make out any detail, but I guess they were anxiously waiting to hear what I would say. I wrung my hands together, and opened my mouth, but no sound came out. Kathleen handed me a glass of water as I wiped the tears from my eyes; I looked at her and she nodded, assuring me that I could do this. Taking a sip, the coolness in my throat felt unfamiliar, and almost immediately I wished that I hadn’t swallowed, because now I had no excuse. I picked up Douglas, my stuffed monkey, and gave him a squeeze.
“I’ll do it.” The voice seemed distant, and unfamiliar, but it was my words all the same. The two lawyers turned to each other and started talking; Katie’s mother reached for my arm with a shaky hand, and quietly whispered “Thank you” as she tried to hold back tears. Immediately I flinched away from her touch, I couldn’t handle any thanks at the moment. Fears were bombarding my thoughts; my heart began to race as I realized what I had just gotten myself into. Kathleen, sensing the start of a panic attack, came over and crouched in front of me.
“This is what we’ve prepared for, Sarah,” she whispered to me, her eyes soft but determined. “We’ll finally be able to get him for all the pain he has put you through. Think of Katie, if you’re scared. Do this for Katie. This little girl needs you.” My grip around Douglas tightened. I knew exactly what Katie had been through, and I knew what would come next for her if this trial did not go through. My jaw set, and I knew what had to be done.
That night I tossed and turned in my bed as usual, but the nightmares were different. The dimly lit bedroom was replaced by a courtroom, and the rows of stuffed animals transformed into a jury. 2 years had passed since this scene, and still it troubled me. Although the setting was different, the monster was the same, haunting my thoughts both day and night.
I sat on a bench, and a lawyer stood in front of me. He asked me a question, but all I could do was blink. Behind him and to the left my uncle sat, staring at me. Pain shot through my body as memories seared through my thoughts. I cringed as each horrific memory hit me in a single instant. I couldn’t bring myself to speak, even though I needed to. Tears rolled down my cheeks as fell off the bench and curled into a ball. I couldn’t do what my lawyer had asked. Later that day, the judge explained to the court why there would be no sentencing, but all I could remember was ‘mistrial’ and ‘lack of evidence’
I woke up in a cold sweat. The day had come, the day I would face my tormentor one last time. I prepared myself for the day, changing into the clothes laid out on the chair and distractedly running a brush through my hair. The entire drive to the court house I clutched my monkey in my hands, telling myself that I would be brave, that I would do this for Katie. Walking from the car to the waiting room and then being led to the bench was all a blur. I just kept thinking of the little girl who needed me. I would sacrifice my comfort for her healing; I would get justice for our case.
I sat down on the bench, and Katie’s lawyer stood in front of me. He asked me a question, but all I could do was blink. My uncle was behind him, staring at me. My mouth went dry, and my insides curled into a knot. But I thought of Katie, took a deep breath, and then told the court what my uncle, my tormentor, had done.
