I’d gutted him. It was wholly satisfying and far from being a good feeling. He’d felt something, been shaken, he was forced to reassess his perspective, and now maybe there was a chance he’d understand.

These things weren’t easy. They required a little baring of the naked and vulnerable soul. Revealing who and what we were.

⊙

“Freak. Monster.”

“Enough, thank you. Please.”

The formalities of a courtroom were looking pretty darn sweet, now that things had reached this point. Rain’s accusers were noisy, and the officers in the room were fighting an uphill battle to keep the peace.

They’d been given a chance to speak and make their arguments, and every one was as angry and vicious as the last.

I felt uncomfortable. I was only on the periphery of it. I couldn’t imagine what Rain felt, being the focus.

“That should be enough. Thank you. Your feelings have been made abundantly clear, and I and the other court proctors, I’m sure, agree that the pain and loss are real, profound, and very much present.”

There were more noises from that part of the room.

“May I speak?” someone asked.

“If you have something to add, that hasn’t already been stated.”

“I do, sir.”

It was a young girl, twelve or so. She had thick, straight dark hair with severe bangs and an ankle-length dress.

“Hi, Rain,” she said. Her voice was steady, but she held a paper or a letter, and it fluttered in her hands.

“Hi,” Rain said, his voice faint.

“My name is Staci. I was at the mall, the day the Fallen attacked it, but I was not inside when the attack happened. I really do not hope that people get upset because they think I have no place to speak. Two of my friends died that day and I think because I saw the aftermath and how the school and the families dealt with it, my perspective is valid.”

Her speaking style was stilted, as she read from the page.

“Two people died and three families were left devastated. Many of their friends were anguished to hear about what happened. School has not felt the same.”

“I’m so sorry,” Rain said.

The girl nodded, an intense motion that betrayed nervousness.

“I can not imagine what it was like to come from where you did. I wrote another letter that I planned to read here or give to you and I changed my mind while I sat here listening. I wrote this down over the last hour. I don’t think you should blame yourself. You were a teenager and teenagers don’t always make the best decisions. I have a big sister, so I know.”