Court day
Edna hardly slept the night before. She lays on her bed awake all night as she tries to imagine what's going to happen in the courtroom.
There are going to be a lot of lies from Keith and his father, she knows this one for sure. She knows how manipulative those two men can be.
This time around, they are not going to get away with it though. Edna has evidence of abuse against and even infidelity too so that means that he is going down.
Malik drives her to court a few hours to court time and she is shaking so much in the car that he has to reach out to hold her hand.
" You are going to be fine. " He assures her. " We have the best lawyers and a just cause. "
" What if it doesn't work out?" Her voice laughs confidently.
Malik chuckles and looks out of the window.
" It's going to work out. " He states. " But if it doesn't, there is always another way. "
She nods and wipes her hand over her face and looks carefully as Malik eases the car into the Court's parking lot.
There are a lot of cars there and to Edna's regret, a lot of journalists are there too. Their cameras and recorders seem to be mocking her, promising to tell of her room.
She can't get out of the car, she is frozen and her breath seems to be labored, the next is harder than the last.
She holds onto the seat belt and shuts her eyes tightly. Maybe this is a time to pop some Valium pills again.
Malik looks around, they seem to be surrounded by lions that are ready to devour them.
" You're good, Edna. " He tells her. " You're fine. "
" They have come to watch me fail. " Edna is almost crying. " They are going to mock me. "
" That's not going to happen, we are going to be victorious. " He has all the Faith for both of them.
Malik is still thinking of the best way to calm her down when a tap on the window makes her almost jump out of her skin.
It's Allison, her lawyer, and also mister McKenna, the lawyer she is going to be working with.
They have been working very hard on the case and they are one of the best lawyers that can be gotten around.
Allison is the come-alive definition of beauty with brains. She has a banging body and a gorgeous face, but her greatest asset is her intelligent brain of hers.
Nothing is more of a turn-on than a woman who knows what she is and how much she is worth.
That's the kind of woman that Edna used to look like to people, that's what she looks at the interviews and unfortunately, that's not who she is.
She is hoping that she is going to be able to one day become Allison's kind of woman. Bold and built, a woman of caliber.
Allison motions for Malik to lower the glass and he does so.
" How is she holding out?" She gives Edna a concerned look.
" She will be fine. " Malik smiles.
"Okay, I think we have about a minute and a half to get you both out of here before those minions notice that you guys have come. " She turns and looks around.
She is referring to the hungry journalists as minions. They are literally going to eat through her.
"Okay, they are coming. " Mister McKenna announces.
Allison takes matters into her own hands. She opens Edna's door and pulls her out of it.
Just as she has predicted, someone notices and touches the next person, and the next person touches another and in a matter of seconds, they are running toward them.
Crazy, suited and smartly dressed men and women throw caution to the wind and run towards them.
Malik helps in taking Edna away. Towards the entrance of the courtroom, where they are not allowed to enter.
The loud noises as triggering every stilled nerve in Edna and she felt her eyes turning around as her pulse raced.
She is being pulled into the courthouse when she catches a glimpse of some individuals at the entrance.
She doesn't recognize the fat-bellied men in overpriced suits but she recognizes Keith in the midst of them.
His hands are shoved deep into his pockets and his eyes are on hers.
It's a brief encounter– though it seems that it happened longer– his eyes seem to be saying words that she doesn't understand and she just blinks back at him.
Her lawyers lead her inside and she doesn't miss that Keith and Malik ignore each other, like they don't exist.
Allison stares at Keith longer than any of them and the punk winks at her. She ignores him and they walk into the Courtroom.
They take their seats and Malik stays there for the main time with them. He is going to leave as soon as the section kicks in and he is going to have to leave them.
He gives Edna's hands a little rub and smiles at her. She smiles too, but she is terrified, she is terrified about what's going to happen.
Allison is giving her little rubs on her back and she is calming down.
" That was your brother, wasn't it?" Allison directs her question at Malik.
"Yes. " He confirms. " That's Keith. Her husband and my brother. "
Allison nods and adjusts her glasses which look more stylish than medicated.
" He looked like a total dick already. " She looks at her nails.
"He is. " Malik huffs.
" Your father isn't here though. " Mister McKenna observes, looking around.
" He doesn't have to be here, does he?" Malik asks. " He has sent his best lawyers to come and represent his son. "
" Well, we are going to win. " Allison sounds so sure and confident. " Right, Edna?"
"Yes. " She nods her head. " Yes, definitely."
"Just remember that you have to tell the court everything that we discussed. " Mister McKenna reminds her.
" Yes. " Edna says.
It doesn't matter that she is shaking so much and she feels like all her nightmares are going to come. true today, she is going to testify against Keith and make sure that he meets his Waterloo.
He has abused, raped, insulted, and made her lose all the self-esteem she could have.
She doesn't care for his money, she isn't doing this because it makes the news and disgraces him, she just wants justice for herself.
With all of these wild events, she feels her bladder being full. This is important, the hearing will start in a few minutes and she knows that she has got to be here when it starts.
She places her right leg over the less, but the pressure between her legs is still there, in fact, it has intensified.
Malik is the first to notice and he just has to ask her.
" Edna, are you fine?" He leans over to her and gently whispers to her.
" I just really have to use the bathroom. " She tells him her troubles. " But I can't do that because the judge might walk in any moment from now. "
Malik scratches his eyebrow and consults his wristwatch. There are still a few minutes left before the official time kicks off.
" I think you can still make it. " He tells her. " Do you want me to go with you? I will wait outside the bathroom for you. "
" You don't have to bother about me. " She touches his shoulder. " Let me get going. "
She stands up and walks away, Allison looks at Malik for an explanation.
" She needs a bathroom break. " Malik waves his hand, explaining and she nods.
Edna keeps her head down as she walks out of the room. She makes the turn to the bathroom and coincidentally, Keith and his lawyers are walking that way to the courtroom.
Edna's heart flutters with surprise but she keeps her calm and walks towards the door of the bathroom.
She has just gotten it open and is about to walk in when she feels a hand grab her upper arm and pushes her in.
It's Keith of course, he pushes her in and shuts the door behind her.
Edna looks alarmed, keeping her distance from him. This is the reason why Malik insisted on coming with her.
Keith is smiling, it's very unusual for Keith to smile, especially at her. There is something annoying about the way his lips are raised and his teeth shine.
" We are in court. " She reminds him. " If you try anything funny with me, I am going to scream and people are going to find out that you are a monster. Give yourself a fair hearing in court. "
He laughs, throws his head back, and laughs at her and her threat.
" Did you ever think, at any point in time, that you can get away from me?" He questions her. " No, my dear wife, you can't. We are going to be together till I say so. "
"You are sick. " She points at him and backs into the cold wall. " Stay away from others I am going to scream. "
He ignores her threats yet again and walks towards her to be fair, she attempts to scream but no word leaves her mouth out of fear.
Keith doesn't hurt her though, he takes her hand and places an envelope in it. He doesn't hurt her but the pictures in them do.