Everyone present is shocked when I suddenly retract my confession.
However, two persons are very calm.
One is Frances.
The other is Hilda.
Why is she so calm when she hears what I said?
Could it be that she knows how to deal with it?
Considering my words, the judge has to take a short recess so that Earl can be taken to run a CT test
on his head.
The test doesn't take any time at all, so we're back in session.
But what the opposing counsel says disappoints and startles me.
"After an accurate test in the hospital, there's no foreign object in the defendant's son's brain and he's
never had an operation. Therefore, it can be concluded that the defendant concocts such a story in
order to slander Hilda."
There isn't a bomb in Earl's head. Why?
Did Hilda ... lie to me?
I look towards Hilda and see she is complacent, which seems to have confirmed my conjecture.
I am deceived, and now it is too late!
I am so stupid that I am fooled like an idiot.
It's the only perk that Earl's life isn't in jeopardy.
But is my life going to be ruined like this?
"I'm not lying. It's Hilda. She lied to me! Frances, it's Hilda who lied to me. I never hate you and neither
do I want to hurt you? I love...."
"Silence in court!"
The judge bangs on the table and says in an authoritative tone.
I have no choice but to calm down and look Frances in the eye.
What I need is his trust.
I just want to see his trusting eyes.
But he doesn't do that.
He just gives me a cold look, and then he looks away.
I am almost dead inside.
"Your honor, the defendant targeted innocent civilians and nearly killed my client. She has broken the
law. We propose the defendant be sentenced to 15 years behind bars."
15 years?
I can feel a kind of ringing in my ears, and I can't hear what is going on anymore.
All I can think about is who will look after Earl if I stay in prison for 15 years.
What will Frances do?
Even though I has prepared for the worst, I find it hard to accept this kind of outcome.
I'm so stupid.
If I had discussed it with Frances at that time, I wouldn't have been fooled.
Now, I've lost everything.
I have nothing left.
The lawyer tries to commute my sentence, and the final sentence is that I have to serve 5 years in
prison.
5 years?
I've never expected that one day I will be in prison for five years.
I don't want to be in jail! However, do I have other choices?
I am overwhelmed by panic, agitation, and other complex emotions, and I am thrown into utter despair.
When the trial is over, Frances stands up and walks straight to Hilda.
I can't help calling his name, "Frances!"
He stops.
It gives me new hope.
"Don't you believe me? Do you think I want to hurt you? You know...."
Before I can finish my sentence, Hilda has walked out of the hall arm in arm with Frances.
A cop escorts me into the car and drives to the prison.
I used to live in a detention center, but now I will be in prison.
The prison is even more terrifying than what I have imagined and I realize this the first day I am in it.
"Number 3307, you'll be here from now on."
There are eight women in this room including me, and they are different from each other.
Each of them was fierce and devilish when they look at me.
I know everyone in the prison is dangerous, so I walk to the only empty bed. As soon as I lie down, I
am lifted by a woman who is very strong.
"Don't sleep, and take off your clothes! Hurry up!"
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