Blame It On The Pain Episode 79
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π§ Blame It On The Pain SEVENTY NINE:
I walk into the room and I immediately want to turn right back around. This can't be my new lawyer.
She's too young. Younger than me. Maybe even younger than Alyssa, who knows.
The one thing I do know isβ¦there's no way she's the best lawyer on the East Coast.
βI'm sorry. I think there's been a mistake,β I say before turning around.
βThere's no mistake, Jackson. My name is Michelle. I know you were probably expecting my father.β
Needless to say, she's got my attention. βI didn't mean to be rude. I'm justββ
She holds out her hand. βWorried? Scared? Nervous?β
I shake her hand. βAll of the above.β
She sits down. βMy dad is the big wig in the family. The one Ricardo spoke to and hired, actually.β
I take a seat, although, I'm not sure why, but for some reason I feel compelled to. βNo offense, Michelle. But if your dad is the lawyer. Then why are you here?β
She smiles and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. βWell, I'm a lawyer too, actually.β
βOh, so I guess you're just taking care of some of the paperwork for him?β
She pulls out a briefcase. βNo. I actually asked my father if it would be okay to take on this case myself.β
I shift in my seat, trying to think of a polite way to decline and tell her that I need her father. βLook, you seem really nice andββ
βI went to school with Lilly.β
I feel the gravitational tug on my heart from hearing her name. Well, that would explain why she looks so young.
She folds her hands on the table. βWe had a few classes together at Harvard. I'd like to think we were friends. Your sister was an amazing person.β
βI know.β
βI saw the subtle change in her, Jackson. She went from being happy-go-lucky and so full of life and happiness to being miserable.β
I put my head in my hands. βI should have noticed the signs. I should haveββ
βShe would have denied it,β she says. βI tried talking to her a few times and it was like talking to a brick wall. The only thing that confronting her did was make her distance herself more.β She holds my gaze. βAbuse victims leave their abusers on average seven times before they leave for good. It wasn't her fault, but she would have stayed until she found the strength within herself to leave.β
I look down. βBut if I knewβ¦I could have saved her life.β
βNo,β she says. βAnd you know why? Because Lilly already knew she could go to you, Jackson. She knew how much you loved her. She knew that if she called you and said that she needed you that you would have been right there. She knew that.β
I look up. βWhy didn't she?β
That's the question that will always haunt me. Why didn't she? I would have done anything for her, anything.
βBecause she blamed herself for the pain,β she whispers. βBecause he made her. That's what abusers do. They tear you down piece by piece and bit by bit. Until there's nothing left anymore.β
She wipes her eyes. βBut make no mistake about it. None of this was her fault. It was all him.β
βI know.β I sit up and look at her. βYou know a lot about this.β
She nods. βI do.β
There's a moment of silence between us before she takes out a manila folder. βIt's why I asked my dad if I could take on this case.β She bites the cap of her pen nervously. βBut you'd really be taking a huge risk with me.β
βWhat do you mean?β
βThis would be my very first case by myself.β
Oh, that's what she means.
I sit back and cross my arms. βOkay, Let's say I hire you. What's the argument?β
βI don't have one.β
βLook, I didn't go to law school. And I'm not nearly as smart as Lilly wasβ¦but I do know that defense attorneys should present an argument. You know, like self-defense, insanity, or an accidental ki lling.β
She crosses her arms, stares me down and I immediately feel it. βHe wasn't attacking you, he attacked Lilly. You're not insane. And you don't regret it, so I'm not sure that going with an accidental ki lling defense would be the best way to go. So, the way I see itβ¦that only leaves me with one choice.β
βWhich is?β
βTelling the truth.β
I stand up and shake her hand. βYou're hired.β
She jumps to her feet. βWhat? Really? You mean it?β
βYup. That's the only way I want to win this case. And I can't help but think that if it was Lilly herself defending me, she would want the same.β
TO Be Continued