"We would like to call on the witness," the lawyer said, waving a hand dramatically. "Zane Chelter, please take the stand."

The lawyer was working on the FBI's side of the case. He looked at me as I sat in the pews of the court, and I couldn't help but shrink like a child. The courtroom waited anxiously for me to rise, but I did not. My legs felt like jelly, and I feared I would collapse to the floor.

However, my reluctance upset the lawyer and he cleared his throat. "With all due respect and understanding for the situation surrounding this case," he said, looking at me apologetically, "the witness has no right to refuse at this time."

The judge confirmed this and they looked to me again for a reponse. After taking a deep breath, I stood and crosed the courtroom to the witness stand. Every face in the room watched me as I made the promise to tell the the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. My skin crawled with anxiety over being stared at, so I kept my eyes on the floor.

When the hardest part was over, I sat down and began fiddling with the buttons on the shirt my friend Kevin had given me to wear. I could hear the lawyer talking, but I wasn't really paying attention to him. Despite myself, I glanced at Cliff across the room, but he was looking down.

"On May 20th of this year you were present to the murder of your father, mother, and younger brother, is that correct?" the prosecutor asked, purposely stepping into my line of vision.

I nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Shortly thereafter you were taken against your will from your parents' home by this man," The prosecutor motioned to Cliff sitting beside his defense attorney, "Clifford Frederick Dine."

It was difficult to peel my eyes away from Cliff to give a response. "Yes, sir."

"After a necessary examination, evidence of several scars and marks made by various objects were found on your body, indicating abuse," he said. There was a pause. "The examination also turned up signs of sexual abuse. Would you care to share these injuries? If not, I can show the jury photos that were taken during the examination."

The memory of being stripped down and studied like a rat in a lab had my stomach turning, but the thought of photos being displayed was  even more sickening. With a curt nod, I swallowed back bile and rolled up one of my sleeves to reveal the large scar down my left arm from Rowen's attempt to aggitate Cliff. The scar was a nasty injury and a bitter example of the pain I had endured, but it was the only a fraction of the memories that littered my body. When the jury saw it, they began to murmur to one another. Even the prosecuter looked uncomfortable.

"Were these injuries all made by Mr. Dine?" he asked, shirting his gaze to the defendant.

My eyes moved to Cliff also, and he finally looked at me. It was the first time I had really seen his face since the day the FBI had showed up at his door, and the very sight of him made the words stick in my throat. I knew what he wanted and I hated it, but I owed it to him; if only this, I owed it to him.

"Yes, sir."

*******

The car ride from the courthouse was spent in silence. Kevin and his family had offered their home to me for as long as I needed to get on my feet. I didn't know how long that would take me, but I was grateful. I was just going to pick up what little belongings I had from my temporary resident at the police station.

When we arrived at the station, I grabbed the few shirts and pants that I had been given, and stuffed them into a bag one of the officers had supplied me with. The bag was more empty than it was full, but I had refused to enter my parents' house to retrieve any of my things. It would be a long time before I could go back there if ever.

Jut as I was finishing up, there was a knock on the door and I turned to see Kevin's mother standing there. "Are you ready, honey?"

I slung the bag over my shoulder and we left the station. Twenty  minutes later, we pulled into the driveway to a house only a few blocks away from my own, and I saw Kevin waiting on the porch. He waved when he saw us; I did my best to return the gesture.

As I got out of the car, my friend came up and took my bag, greeting me and telling me he was glad to see I had made it one piece after driving with his mother. She scolded him as he lead me inside and up to his room.

"You'll be staying in my room until my parents can get the guest room in order," he said. "My parents already got you a bed, so no one has to sleep on the floor."

He laughed a little, encouraging me to relax, but I could only force a smile. "Thanks," I said. "I wasn't sure where I was going to stay now that the trial is over, but I'm glad I'm with you. It makes things easier to handle."

"Of course," he said. He grinned at me, but it was uneasy. "Welcome to our home, stay as long as you like."

He trying to make light of the air in the room, so I nodded, trying my best to act like a normal human being. "Thank you for having me," I said.

The room grew quiet as we fell into awkwardness. Kevin looked like he had something to say, but he hesitated several times before actually speaking. Finally, he asked, "Are you okay?"

The unconvincing amusement in my eyes faded. I looked away. "Of course," I lied. It wasn't a very good lie, but I ran with it. "Why wouldn't I be? The nightmare is over."

Kevin stared at me, deciding what to do until he finally stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. "I know you're not," he said quietly. "If you want to cry, you can. I won't judge you."

I knew Kevin meant what he said and that I shouldn't be afraid to let it out, but something still stopped me. I didn't know what it was, but something told me it wasn't time to grieve; at least not yet. "Thanks," I said with a shaky breath.

Kevin pulled away to look at me seriously. "I'm serious," he urged. "I'm your friend. If you need anything, just say so."

I smiled, this time almost truthfully. "Yeah."

Now that the awkwardness was out of the way, Kevin took my bag and walked over to my bed to set it down. "So, what was decided?" he questioned. "In the court case, I mean."

I scratched the back of my neck, looking out the window. "Cliff was declared legally insane and sentenced to life plus fifty years in an institutional prison." I was ashamed to admit the way the memory made my heart sink. "He's... gone."

"Why do you seem upset about that?" Kevin asking, observing the way my shoulders drooped.

"I don't know," I said, forgetting my plans to keep my worry to myself. "I just don't think he deserved it. Cliff wasn't insane, he was damaged. He needed help, not prison. He-" When I realized how I sounded, I stopped short and scowled at myself. "Sorry. I don't know what I'm saying."

Kevin crossed the room. "You know you can tell me anything," he pressed. He was sincere, but couldn't tell him this. This was better kept to myself.

"I know," I said. "Really, it's just some stupid shit I have to work through."

Keven didn't push the subject and we decided to go on a run. I hadn't be able to get exercise like I was used to, so it felt nice to jog around the familiar neighborhood once again. We were out for an hour or so before we agreed to head back. As we neared the house, I slowed down and put my hands on my knees. "Wait up!" I called. "I don't have that much stamina."

"Are you kidding me?" Kevin asked, laughing as he came to a stop. "You're out of shape. You used to be able to run circles around me."

I straightened. "If you were cooped up in a house all the time and all you could do was read, you'd be out of shape too," I accused.

"Nerd," he teased.

Grinning, I shoved him into the grass and bolted for the house. "Race you!" I yelled.

"Hey!" he hollered. "That's cheating!"

We raced back to the house and jumped onto the porch at roughly the same time. Collapsing onto our hands and knees almost immediately, we both breathed hard through our noses. Kevin flopped down onto his back. "I win," he panted.

"What? No, I beat you," I wheezed, equally as breathless.

Kevin sat up on his elbows. "No way. That was me."

We spent the next few minutes arguing about who won until we were interrupted by Kevin's mother from inside the house. "Boys, dinner is on the table! Come in already!"

We looked at each other. "Call it a tie?" I asked.

Kevin nodded. "Agreed."

We went inside and I forgot all about the trial and Cliff for the rest of the evening. I didn't want to think about any of it anyway, and Kevin was good at distracting me by tossing a pea at me from across the table while his mother wasn't looking or offering to play a board game of my choice. Kevin was a good friend.

By the time we went to bed, it was almost midnight. As we lay there in silence, a gentle rain began to descend upon the roof. It wasn't until the first thunder clap marred the quietness of the room when Kevin whispered to me in the dark.

"Are you asleep yet?" he asked.

"No, why?" I responded.

"Well, I was just thinking," he started. "I know you're an adult and you don't legally need parental figures, but I'm sure my parents would be okay with adopting you. We could be brothers."

I heard the hope in his voice and I couldn't help the way it hurt. While his offer was appreciated, no adoption would replaced the irreplaceable. My real brother was gone, my parents were gone, and now the man I had almost accepted as my new family was gone too. Part of me was afraid that if I became part of someone else's family, I would bring misery to them as well. Kevin and his parents didn't deserve that.

"Zane?"

Kevin's voice brought me back and I turned away so he couldn't see my face. "Sure," I said. "I'd like that."

*******

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