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You are mine, he had sneered. No matter where you go, I will find you, little mouse. You hear me, woman? You are mine.
The words echoed around her head as Sarah lay in bed, hands clutching at the sheets, chest heaving as she attempted to bring her breathing back under control. Slowly releasing her death grip on the cotton sheets she sat up, her racing heart beginning to slow to a normal level. It’d been years since she’d dreamed about that day. About him. Yet even now, she could remember with startling clarity the moment those words of hate and vitriol had left his lips. The look of betrayal, anger and blame etched on his features as he had spoken.
They had been standing in the courtroom. He next to his defence lawyers, paid for by his wealth. His parents like tall soldiers behind him in the docks. Immaculately groomed, their tailored clothes didn’t betray the lies, horror and injustice they believed she had brought upon their son.
She’d been on the other side of the courtroom with her lawyer. Her face showing every sign of the worry she felt. Her hands had gripped the edge of the table in front of her so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. In the docks behind her: no one. No parents, no friends or loved ones to lend their support.
“Madam Foreperson, have you agreed upon a verdict?” the judge inquired.
“Yes, your honour, we have.”
“How say you?”
“We the jury, find the defendant Jeff Prescott, guilty as charged.”
With the guilty verdict read, Sarah found she could no longer stand. Her knees buckling as the heavy weight that had been sitting on her shoulders for the past two years finally lifted. Tears came unbidden to her eyes and she began to shake uncontrollably. Vaguely she could feel strong hands reaching out in an effort to support her, guiding her back to the seat that she could feel being pushed under her legs as they gave way.
The years of hell had finally come to an end with one word.
Guilty.
The sheer relief and elation she felt at hearing the verdict that she had so desperately longed for was short lived as an uproar that could be heard from the other side of the courtroom came to the forefront of her mind. Cries of shock and anguish from Jeff Prescott’s supporters reverberated around the courtroom. Sarah’s side of the courtroom remained ominously quiet with the lack of supporters behind her. Standing next to her, her attorney’s face showed no sign of emotion as he waited patiently. The only sign at all from him regarding the verdict was a hand that was clenched in a fist at his side.
“Order! Order!” The judge banged the gavel with force.
Her authoritative voice cut through Sarah’s reverie as she forced her mind to focus on where she was. Willing her body to find the strength to stand on her shaking legs she rose once more to face the judge. A hush slowly descended around the room as order was restored, Jeff’s supporters becoming silent to listen to the final words of the judge.
“Mr Prescott, you have been found guilty and are to be remanded in custody until sentencing next week. Members of the jury the court thanks you for your time. Court is dismissed.” Banging the gavel one final time Sarah watched as the judge walked out of the room, the jurors soon following after.
Sitting in the bed, her heart rate and breathing now returned to normal, Sarah continued to remember that day. How as the two police officers who were standing near Jeff Prescott had begun to walk in his direction to escort him away, he’d turned and spoken those words to her. Words that she would never forget.
You are mine. No matter where you go, I will find you, little mouse. You hear me, woman? You are mine.