Moments That Mattered [Ongoing]

ALICE

A few things rivalled a courtroom: death, failure, rejection. And where they were scary, they didn't match up to the blaring lights, the cameras, and the reporters lining the entrance to the courthouse. They weren't as scary as placing a hand on the Bible and swearing to say nothing but the truth -especially when everyone thought her to be a liar.

Alice Reinhardt could hear her heartbeat drumming in her ears.

Bum.

Bum.

Bum.

She could feel it fighting to get released from the confines of her thoracic cage. And as she placed her hands on the Bible in front of her, she hoped her sweaty palm wouldn't stain the black leather covering of the Good Book. She barely registered the question to take the oath being said to her.

Alice took a deep breath. Her nerves were all over the place. Last year, around this same time, she would've never thought that she would be here. In front of a judge, a jury and an audience convinced that she was lying. From her seat on the witness stand, she caught glimpse of her husband, Damien Beckett, and he smiled at her. Her baby was at home, with her younger sister -most likely watching her on television.

"I, Alice Reinhardt Beckett, swear that the evidence I shall give, shall be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God."

Damien nodded at her, and she felt her body relax ever so slightly. It wouldn't be easy. She knew it wouldn't the moment she made her decision. She was a woman, an unknown one, accusing the two children of the two most influential men in the country of a heinous crime against her very innocence. But she couldn't stay silent anymore. It was suffocating and taking away her will to live more and more every day.

And yes, she could lose. All this would've been for nothing, but at least her story would be out there. At least she would've tried something.

Her lawyer, Nathanael Spencer Martin, looked at her and adjusted the glasses on his face. He stayed composed in his seat. But their lawyers, especially the woman who stood in a black power suit and stiletto heels, ready to win, scared Alice. But as long as she told the truth she would be fine. Spencer made her swear not to exaggerate anything that happened. Especially after all the character witnesses said how those men were incapable of any harm and model citizens.

It was her word, the one of a stranger, against that of rich men ready to throw an unsurmountable amount of money to escape being put behind bars. There wasn't much else she could do but tell the truth.

"Mrs Beckett, could you please walk us through the events of that day and that night." Her voice was so authoritative, so final, yet pleasant, that it made a chill run down the length of Alice's spine.

Alice nodded and took a deep breath.

"The day started just like any other."