I don’t know what came over me at that point, but it’s obvious to everyone I was more animal than human as I hit her in the side of the face with all my might. All my rage boiled to the surface as she fell back and hit the floor with a sickening crack. But still she slapped weak hands at me, even as I crawled on top of her and thrust the lamp down in her face. Again and again and again, I released my pain and anger over what she’d done. At the life she almost stole from me. The only family I had left.

It wasn’t until the glass finally shattered in my hands and my jarring bellows came to an abrupt halt that I realized she was no longer moving. Her face was unrecognizable. It was gory and disfigured, but it was the crimson oozing from her skull that sealed my fate. The reality I accepted far too slowly on the screen, holding my bloodied hands in front of me and releasing a heart-wrenching sob.

I watch silently as that alternate version of me whispers in horror at the realization of what she’s done. And even now, I can recall the pain lancing through my chest as I stupidly tried to revive her. As if I could. As if I wasn’t a fucking monster.

“That’s enough,” Santi’s choked voice echoes from beside me. “We get the point.”

I can’t bear to look at him. I know I can’t. I’m too terrified of what I might see in his eyes.

“I think the film speaks for itself.” Hildebrand uses the remote to turn off the screen, his eyes falling upon me again. “Will you deny what’s obvious, Ms. De La Rosa? You were there. The proof is indisputable.”

“I was there.” I hang my head, trying to hold back my tears. “I won’t deny it.”

“It was self-defense,” Santi snarls from beside me. “Anyone can see that.”

Despite my assurance I wouldn’t, I swivel my gaze to him, and more tears fill my eyes as I realize he’s not just saying it. He really does believe that.