2
John kept his word. Days later, the summons
arrived.
The trial was on my eighteenth birthday.
The Carters, wealthy, hired the state’s best
lawyer, vowing to send me to jail.
I couldn’t afford a lawyer.
The court, mercifully, assigned me one.
His name was David Miller. He was young and
handsome.
He came to my aid, wanting to gather every
detail.
He was enthusiastic, but I knew he was just
doing his job.
I had no chance of winning.
I was silent, only nodding or shaking my head.
After some perfunctory questions, David grew
impatient.
“Ms. Carter, if you continue like this, I can’t
help you.”
I said calmly, “You can’t help me. No one
can.”
“But thank you, Mr. Miller.”
David softened.
He asked gently, “Ms. Carter, let’s try a
different approach. Consider me a friend, tell
me everything.”
As I prepared to pour out my heart, his phone
buzzed.
A familiar contact photo, a tender message,
filled the screen.
“My love, can you join Lily for some shopping
Г
after work?”
I felt a chill, my body trembling uncontrollably.
The photo was a selfie of Lily.
They were dating!
Feeling the world’s malice, I took a deep
breath and dismissed him.
David was puzzled; seeing my resolve, he
gave up.
As I showed him out, I idly swept my hair from
my forehead.
It was a habitual gesture, but David’s face
changed.
He hesitated, then rolled up his sleeve,
revealing his wrist, tentatively asking, “Ms.
Carter, have you ever seen this bracelet?”
It was an ordinary plastic bead bracelet.
Years of wear had worn it thin.
His strange question was baffling.
Yet, the bracelet felt familiar.
I couldn’t place it.
Г
I shook my head, saying I had no recollection. David looked disappointed, sighed, and left.
