Both Arion and I stay quiet like we have vowed to. Unless it’s a reporter at one of my games, we don’t talk. Quickly we walk up the front steps to the courthouse and I do my best to keep my ears closed and just go. Then a question that makes absolutely no sense for today and what we are about to do is asked. “How do you feel about the rumored trade to Miami?”
Annoyance brews inside of me. How could someone be so callous to ask something like that with what I am obviously dealing with today? It completely catches me unprepared and apparently Arion too. She can’t help herself and handles it like the little spitfire that she is.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” she snaps, looking the guy straight in the eye. He is taller than she is, but that doesn’t make her back down. “That’s your question? On a day when the murderer of his sister is getting sentenced, you wanna know how he feels about being traded? You are fucking unbelievable.”
Her rant has quieted the swarm of reporters and stunned me a bit. She glares at him and then tugs my hand and I follow, staring at her a bit in awe. I’m so damn proud that she is mine. When we enter the courthouse, a rush of warmth hits us. It’s a cold, cloudy day today, and I know rain is looming nearby. It suits my mood perfectly.
“Are you okay?” she asks me.
“Yeah, thank you for standing up to those reporters.”
“Baby, it’s my job. You deserve nothing but peace and respect today. That asshole wasn’t giving it to you, so I needed him to know that it wasn’t okay. I also know your parents are right behind us and I pray to God they leave them alone and don’t ask any questions.”
“After what you just said, I doubt it.”
We arrive at the courtroom and sit on one of the brown, wooden benches, holding each other’s hands while we wait for my parents, both of us being quiet. Being with Arion calms me, in a way that no other person in the world can. I know we are about to walk into a shit-storm, but if I have her, I know I’ll survive.
“Bain.” I recognize my mom’s voice right away. Looking up, she is running to me. I stand, engulfing her in a tight hug, and she cries into the fabric of my teal shirt. It was Kinsey’s favorite color and I wore it in honor of her today. When my dad is close enough, he hugs Arion, and then the both of them hug my mom and I. As we stand there together, I sense Kinsey’s arms shrouded around all of us.
She is with us today – I know it.
Our hug is cut short by the DA. She comes out of the courtroom clearing her throat and we all disperse, but still keep our arms around each other.
“How are you all doing today?” she asks.
“As good as to be expected,” my dad tells her.
“Good. Listen, I wanted to let you know that they bumped our time up thirty minutes. So it’s go time. Are you guys ready?”
My dad and I nod our heads. To the left of me is Arion and to the right is my mom. She is fragile in her current state, but we have to go through this for Kinsey and she knows that.
Cindie, the DA, heads inside and we follow. The courtroom is old and needs a remodel. The white walls and heavy, dark wood are not comforting. On one side there are only a few people, I’m assuming the family of this asshole.
The other side is packed, a clear congregation of support. Everyone is in teal, showing they are here for Kinsey.
Cindie directs us to sit in the front row. All is quiet while we wait, then a door on the side of the room opens. Two officers walk out with this motherfucker shackled like the fucking pig that he is.
My body tenses as I see Anthony. How could he do this to her? I squeeze my mother and Arion’s hands so hard, I’m surprised they sit quietly. In this moment, I can almost envision myself climbing over this wall and killing him with my bare hands. I could snap his little motherfucking neck before anyone was on me.
My body begins to tremble as my thoughts carry me away to a deep, dark place. Then Arion touches my face and it pulls me out of my hallucination. I was mere inches away from snapping. I know in the back of my mind, this could be my only chance to hurt him like I so badly want to – need to. I lean into Arion’s touch, letting the tears rolls down my cheeks and just close my eyes. I have to pull myself together. He won’t be responsible for my life ending too.
“All rise for the honorable Judge Jenkins,” the court clerk announces. We stand and I’m weak in my knees. I can’t bear to stay in this moment, and trying not to pass out, I close my eyes praying to Kinsey for help.
When we all sit back down, I lean into Arion, knowing it will help to calm me, and I do everything possible to keep my mind busy. Whatever you do, don’t look at him again I tell myself, knowing it would make it worse. Then clear as day, I hear Kinsey say to me. I love you, Bain, I’m all right. I can picture her saying the words with her long, brown hair messy as always and her calm demeanor. She never cared about her looks and was always confident and free-spirited. Just like the time we went white water rafting for our eighteenth birthday. I was scared, but not her…