PART 4
Three months later, the courtroom was packed.
My mother entered wearing white.
She smiled at reporters as if she were the victim.
Brenda refused to look at me.
The prosecution played every piece of evidence.
The photographs.
The medical reports.
The security videos.
The voicemail.
Then Valeria took the witness stand.
She didn't cry.
She didn't raise her voice.
She simply told the truth.
Every hour.
Every insult.
Every night she begged for water.
Every time Santiago cried until his tiny voice became too weak to hear.
When she finished speaking, the courtroom sat in complete silence.
Even the judge removed his glasses for a moment.
The verdict came two hours later.
My mother was convicted of child endangerment, unlawful imprisonment, neglect causing serious bodily harm, and domestic abuse.
Brenda was found guilty as an accomplice.
As deputies led them away in handcuffs, my mother turned toward me.
"I did everything for you!"
I looked her in the eyes.
"No."
"You did everything to control me."
Then I walked away.
May you like
She called my name again.
I never looked back.
