Chapter 8 - The Verdict
The jury deliberated for less than three hours.
When the foreperson stood up to read the verdict, the courtroom was dead silent.
"On the charge of assault of a minor... we find the defendant, Vanessa, guilty. On the charge of child endangerment... we find the defendant guilty."
Vanessa let out a loud, dramatic wail, collapsing into her chair. My mother started sobbing hysterically, screaming that it wasn't fair, that the system was rigged. The bailiff had to order them to be quiet.
The judge looked down at Vanessa with utter disgust.
"You abused a disabled child for your own entertainment, and then you attempted to weaponize the public against her father," the judge said sternly. "I am sentencing you to twelve months in the county correctional facility, followed by three years of supervised probation. You are also ordered to pay full restitution for the victim's secondary surgery and physical therapy."
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Handcuffs clicked around Vanessa’s wrists. There was no social media to save her. No family rule of "it's just a joke" to hide behind. She was led out of the courtroom, completely broken.
I didn't smile. I didn't cheer. I just felt a massive, heavy chain fall off my chest. We were finally free.
