"You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy. So let them go, let go of them. I tie no weights to my ankles." - C. JoyBell C.

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Caden's POV

6 months Later

It's my brother's trial today, and I am a nervous wreck! God! I haven't seen him in almost two years, but now, I have to face him for his stupid trial.

The jury will review the videos and photos taken by the security cameras inside our apartment and question all of our neighbors that lived in my building and the surrounding buildings. That includes Agnes. Arrrgh, I hate this! I hate this so much.

Too quickly, I get up from my bed, and then steady myself with a hand on my dresser because my head is spinning and I feel like I'm about to throw up.

Silas isn't with me; he had gone to work early for an early business meeting. I didn't tell him about the trial today. I didn't want to. Cole is a sensitive subject for both me and him. And just the thought of his name makes Silas mad with fury. Not that I blame him.

I just don't want him to get too worked up over it. He has an important business meeting today, and all this drama will just distract him. I just need to suck it up and get it over with.

When I try to move my feet toward the closet, my legs don't comply. I am standing stock still at the foot of my bed paralyzed with fear.

I don't want to do this, I don't want to do this.

I have to tell them what he did. Complete strangers! I have to relive four years of hell to them. The thought makes me want to retch in my toilet. No doubt, Cole will be gloating when he sees me. Probably smirking or smiling; he always thrived off my misery.

I hate seeing how he's still affecting me, almost two years later! I promised myself to move on! Why am I acting like this?!

I need to get a grip on myself.

So, slowly but surely, I make my way towards my closet, and put on my best secretary/professional suit, pantsuit, I don't even know! I still work at Aldridge Property Advisors. Silas offered my old job but I made it clear I liked making money on my own. And without my boss being my boyfriend and all.

Mr. Aldridge is still as nice as ever. I work a little overtime when I feel like it, and he never complains. We've had late nights doing paperwork while eating Chinese Food. God, the way this man still fawns over his wife after fifty years together is beyond adorable. And he never fails to show me photos of his grandbabies every chance he gets.

I'm so happy with my life right now. The only thing still holding me back is Cole. And after today, I refuse to let his name cross my mind ever again.

After changing into a dark blue pantsuit, I apply a thin layer of makeup to hopefully hide the dark circles under my eyes. Yeah, last night was a blast staying up late because I was so anxious for today.

It's okay though. I grab the car keys that Silas let me borrow. He also offered to buy me a car, but I really wanted to buy my own without him. Not that I don't appreciate the offer, I really do, but I want to be able to reach these milestones by myself. And buying my first car is first on the list. Silas understood that and let it go.

Unlocking the door, I put in the address for the courthouse. My hands aren't slicked with sweat and they are most definitely not getting all over the wheel. Nope... Eh, whatever, I'll clean it before giving it back to Silas. It is a very nice Tesla after all.

The courthouse quickly comes into view and I immediately notice Agnes standing outside the doors. She's faced to the parking lot, and it makes me wonder if she was waiting for someone.

I get out the car and make my way towards her. "Hi, Agnes," I try to say enthusiastically. Not sure if I succeeded. She smiles back at me. God, I missed her so much.

I try to come over to her place once a month to bake, cook, do whatever. I love her so much.

"Hi, sweet bean," she beams. "You nervous for today?" There's concern written on her face but I don't want her to worry. I feel bad enough that she was dragged into this situation.

"I'm okay, are you?" She nods but her face still has that worried look on her face. I try to reassure with a smile but again, not sure if I pulled it off or not.

We walk together into the courthouse, and already my heart is racing and my hands begin to clam up. I try to discreetly wipe the sweat on my pencil skirt. I try to take deep breaths but it does nothing to calm me down.

I need to chill.

The lady at the front desk tells us the room number for the trial and I thank her. I walk at a slow pace, and I tell myself it's to accommodate to Agnes, but I can see through my lies. I'm sure Agnes and literally anyone that glances in my direction could too.

The room number door finally looms ahead, but just the thought of walking inside makes me insides turn. My feet stop unconsciously. I don't know if Agnes stops with me, all I can see is that door. The door in which contains the person who made my life a nightmare.

I can't do this.

I can't do this. I'm such a fool to think I can, but what else is new. My legs refuse to move in that direction so I turn the opposite direction.

I can't do this, I can't do this!

God, I'm so pathetic. I hate myself seeing me cower to face him. My only saving grace is that Silas isn't hear to witness my mental breakdown.

Quickly, my legs take me to the lobby. I ache to feel the fresh air awaiting me outside; to feel the breeze wash over my face and cleanse me from that freaking door.

Five feet away from the door, I bump into something hard. I can't even look up because I know my nose is permanently squished.

Wait, something smells familiar.

My eyes gaze up and I see a chest in front of me. But not just any chest, it's-

"You should really watch where you're running." Silas stares back at me. He looks at me like he ran into me at Walmart and not at my brother's courthouse.

He gives me a small smile at my bewildered look and tucks a strand of hair that came loose behind my ear. "Wh-what are you doing here?" I ask, baffled. How did he know about today?? I went to great lengths to not reveal the trial date or really, anything about Cole. Again, touchy subject.

He chuckles which bewilders me because this is no laughing matter. I am clearly about to die and he is laughing. "You really thought I wouldn't be here for you?" He smiles at me again before bending down and giving me a small kiss. Then his lips travel to my ear and he whispers, "Nice try trying to hide it from me though, with the avoiding talking about Cole thing and turning off the news whenever he pops us. But you should already know this, baby, you can't hide anything from me." He kisses my cheek before returning to his full height.

I just stand there, as if paralyzed. Mostly because he was able to see through my actions and also because I know I probably look like a wreck right now which was precisely why I didn't want him here.

"You shouldn't be here," I begin to say, "you have an important business meeting."

He frowns. "Nothing is more important to me than you," he deadpans. "We're going to have a chat about you trying to hide this from me later, by the way."

I groan internally, really not excited about that future conversation.

Silas grabs my arm and guides me to the ladies' room. I expect him to wait by outside but no, he fully comes into the restroom with me. Thankfully, the stalls are empty, but still. I turn back to him to tell him to get out but he beats me to it. "You face is pale and your hands are shaking," he states.

I don't find any amusement at his candid observation. "Thanks, didn't realize," I reply sarcastically.

He smiles but that doesn't work on me either. He notices because he then says, "It's okay to be nervous." He tries to kiss me but I deflect it.

"I'm not nervous," I lie.

He chuckles into my neck after I swerve him and instead kisses the inside of my ear. "Okay, whatever you say."

I'm really not in the mood for this. I just want to be alone. No, I want to not be here. He can kiss me all he wants if we just weren't here.

"Silas, please, I'm not in the mood right now." He stops kissing me and looks me dead in the eye. "I'm trying to get you to relax," he says, his eyes now serious. "I know you're nervous. I know you don't want to be here, and I know you didn't want me to see you like this. But I am here. For you. I am here because you need me even though you don't want me. And I am telling you you will make it through this day. I know you have to retell all the shit he did to you. I know you hate everything about this, but you will get through it. Because you're Caden; you're strong, and smart, and you won't let your shit of a brother get to you again. You can do this. And when this day is over, I will cook you dinner and we can watch movies and you can forget about that bastard forever. Okay?"

I just stare at him. And then I blink because my eyes have gone dry. Silas reaches up to my face and wipes a tear I didn't know glided down my cheek.

I don't say anything. I don't feel the need to. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him. He responds quickly, holding me by my waist like he'll never let go. When we finally break the kiss, our forehead touching, he whispers again, "You can do this."

I smile and nod. "I can do this."

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"Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So help you God."

I nod and say, "I do."

The judge replies, "Let the proceedings begin."

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"We the jury, find the defendant, Cole Wilson, guilty of the following counts: domestic violence of the second degree and aggravated assault of the first degree and will be sentenced to five years of state prison and three years probation."

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I cried a lot. While I was talking, while words just spewed out of my mouth, tears just fell. And they didn't stop until an officer brought me tissues. Never once did I look in Cole's direction. I don't care how he reacted. I don't care if he relished on witnessing me crying. I just don't care.

I feel light as I walk out of the courtroom. My eyes feel heavy, but my body feels light. Like I haven't felt in years. And when the judge announced the guilty verdict, I almost sobbed. My heart throbbed but in a good way.

And for the first time in almost two years, I looked Cole dead in the eye. I saw the horror cross his face. I also spotted that familiar anger he always wore when he was with me. I saw pain, outrage, fury, even desperation. But not once did I ever see remorse. That alone gave me the courage to smile. And I smiled brightly, bright enough for even him to spot me and glower while he was taken away in handcuffs.

"You ready to go home," Silas says beside me as we walk into the lobby. My mouth begins to form the word yes, but something stops me.

I don't say anything, but I can feel the way Silas looks at me as if he too knows what I'm thinking.

The officer guides me to his cell, where he is sitting on the ground, cross-legged, looking utterly devastated. Silas offered to come with me but I declined. I want to do this alone.

I am shocked to find that tears are coming out of his eyes. Real freaking tears! Never thought I'd see the day.

He doesn't notice me standing there, watching him, observing how pathetic he looks. No, he just keeps weeping and sniffling, wallowing in self-pity.

He finally looks up, and his gaze forms into something I recognize. The real Cole. Or, at least the one I'm familiar with. "Hello, Cole," I say. I sound indifferent. I look indifferent. Because for the first time in years, I am not at his mercy. He is in mine. "You look well today."

He spits on the ground and shoots daggers at me. "You here to fucking gloat or what?"

"Yes," I reply.

He laughs and it sounds as ugly as he looks. "You're having a real nice time with this, aren't you?" He stands to his full height and looks at me. If he's thinking his height will overpower me like it did once before, he is sorely mistaken. "But know this, I will always haunt you. Everywhere. When you're asleep, at home, in some dark ally, you will always be reminded of me; of what I did to you." He smirks. And if I'm being honest, he wouldn't look half bad if he wasn't an asshole and all. "A small price to pay for what you did."

I don't say anything. Let him think he's affected me. Let him think I still believe him. After some time, I say, "You're right. I will never forget you. I'll never forget what you did. I'll never forget your punishments and beatings. I'll also never forget how I kicked your ass and locked you in my apartment, letting you meet your miserable fate. Yes, your weak, pathetic sister overpowered you. And how I put you in jail. And how I witnessed your face at the guilty verdict. Those moment will forever be seared into my brain."

He looks like he's about to say something but I cut him off. "I'll never forget you. Or mom. Or dad. Believe what you want, I killed them. Whatever makes you sleep at night. But at the end of the day, we both know why you're behind bars. We both know who is responsible for how your life turned out. Deflect the blame if you must, but you're not as dumb as you make yourself out to be. And you will sit in a cell for the next five years knowing you put yourself there."

I walk toward the bars, right in front of him, not a trace of fear in my body. "And if you think for a second to come after me when you're release," I grip the collar of his prison uniform and yank him against the bars, his face hitting hard against the metal, "think again. Because I am not your weak, little sister anymore. And I will make sure you stay here for the rest of your life."

For the first time in my life, fear sets into this man's eyes.

And I smile.

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