Chapter 130

• I found myself seated in a rigid chair, my fingers tapping nervously against the polished surface of the smooth wooden table before me. The atmosphere in the courtroom was tense, and I could feel the weight of the judge's gaze as he squinted at me, perhaps attempting to see beyond the facade I now presented. It struck me that he might not even recognize me, given how much I had transformed from the fragile figure I had once been. My internal musings, however, were abruptly cut short when the prosecuting attorney began to speak.
• "The prosecution calls Andrew Brook to the stand."
• A wave of discomfort washed over me. I detested not only his name but the very essence of his being. I felt my heart rate quicken as I heard the sound of his footsteps echoing up the central aisle of the courtroom. Each step sent a shiver down my spine, raising the fine hairs on the back of my neck. As he approached the table, I was grateful that the public defender stood between us, creating a brief barrier against the intensity of his presence. I could almost feel the animosity radiating from him, as if flames were shooting from his mouth, threatening to scorch my very skin. He moved with an air of arrogance towards the witness stand, prompting a surge of rage within me that made me want to confront him right then and there.