Chapter 10 - Elena Speaks
Elena asked to speak.
Our attorney had prepared her.
But preparation couldn't make it easy.
She walked forward with trembling hands.
Margaret watched her.
That old controlling stare returned.
I recognized it.
Elena did too.
But this time, she didn't look away.
She described the six days.
The chores.
The sleep deprivation.
The criticism.
The food.
The humiliation.
Then she said something I hadn't heard before.
“Margaret told me Michael would eventually choose her.”
My mother shifted in her chair.
“She said sons always come back to their mothers.”
Elena swallowed.
“She said wives are temporary.”
The courtroom became completely silent.
“And what did you believe?”
Elena thought about the question.
“For a few days?”
She looked at me.
“I believed her.”
That hurt.
But I needed to hear it.
“Why?”
“Because Michael trusted his mother.”
Her answer was fair.
“He had no reason not to.”
Then Elena looked at Margaret.
“Neither did I.”
Her voice became stronger.
“I welcomed her into my home.”
“I trusted her with my baby.”
“I trusted her when she said I was failing.”
“I trusted her until I didn't recognize myself anymore.”
Margaret stared straight ahead.
Elena continued.
“But I'm not here because I hate her.”
That surprised everyone.
“I'm here because my son deserves to grow up without learning that love means control.”
I closed my eyes.
That sentence stayed with me.
The judge denied Margaret's request.
No court-ordered visitation.
No access to Leo.
And because of the evidence presented, additional questions about harassment and falsified material were referred for further review.
Margaret walked out without looking at us.
May you like
I thought it was over.
I was wrong.
