Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO TESTIFIED
Sadi testified against Rey.
The courtroom was colder than she expected.
Rey sat beside his attorney.
He wore a clean suit.
His hair was neatly combed.
To anyone who did not know him, he looked ordinary.
That frightened Sadi more than his anger ever had.
When she described the night he broke her collarbone, his attorney questioned her memory.
Had she been drinking?
Had she fallen?
Was she exaggerating because the relationship ended badly?
Sadi gripped the edge of the witness stand.
For a moment, she heard Rey's voice again.
Nobody will believe you.
Then she looked toward the prosecutor.
And answered.
"No."
The attorney continued.
"Isn't it true that you remained in the apartment after the alleged assault?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Sadi swallowed.
"Because I was afraid of what would happen if I left."
The courtroom became silent.
She explained the threats.
The isolation.
The financial control.
The way Rey convinced her that nobody would help.
Then she described working through the pain at Frankie's Diner.
The apron.
The coffee pot.
The broken dishes.
The moment she collapsed.
She did not exaggerate.
She did not try to sound brave.
She simply told the truth.
When her testimony ended, she walked out of the courtroom with Elaine beside her.
Leo waited near the elevators.
He did not approach until she looked at him.
"How did it go?" he asked.
Sadi took a breath.
"I told them."
"Everything?"
"Everything I could remember."
Leo nodded.
"Good."
She looked at him.
"I was terrified."
"I know."
"But I did it."
For the first time, she smiled without forcing herself.
May you like
"Yes," Leo said quietly.
"You did."
