Becoming Strangers Again by Lily

Lily
The courtroom was cold. Not from the temperature, but from everything that had happened.
This was the fifth hearing. The fifth time we had sat here, listening, waiting, hoping for justice. But no matter how many times I
heard Clover's name, no matter how many times I saw him sitting there at the defendant's table, it never got easier.
Clover Maddox had already served his time for murder. He had spent years in prison for taking Ryan's grandmother from him.
And now, here he was again this time for something even worse. He hadn't just hurt one person. He had tried to take our sons.
Our babies.
Ryan sat beside me, his jaw tight, his hands curled into fists on his lap. I reached over, slipping my fingers through his, silently
reminding him that I was here. That we were in this together. His grip was strong, almost desperate, but I didn't let go.
Sarah sat on Ryan's other side, her face pale, her shoulders stiff. She had lost too much already. First her mother, then her
husband. Now she was here again, forced to relive another nightmare.
The judge entered, and the room fell silent.
"This court is now in session for the fifth hearing in the case of Clover Maddox, charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to
commit murder."

The words sent a chill down my spine. I had heard them before, but they never lost their impact.
Clover sat there, dressed in a dark suit, his wrists shackled together. His expression was blank, but I knew better. He wasn't
sorry. He never had been.
The prosecutor, Ms. Langford, stood. "Your Honor, the evidence presented in the last four hearings has been clear. The
defendant, Clover Maddox, not only aided in the abduction of Ethan, Liam and Noah Williams but did so with full intent to end
their lives. His prior criminal record speaks for itself. He is a repeat offender, a man who has already taken one life and was
released back into society, only to commit another heinous crime. The prosecution firmly stands by the request for the maximum
sentence." Clover's lawyer, a tall, thin man with graying hair, stood next. "Your Honor, my client has already paid his debt to
society for past crimes. While the accusations against him are severe, I ask the court to consider that there was no actual harm
done to the children in question. They were found unharmed, and my client's role="

A sharp sound cut through the room. It took me a second to realize it was Ryan, laughing under his breath. But there was no
humor in it. Only anger.
"No harm done?" Ryan's voice was low, dangerous. I squeezed his hand, silently pleading with him to stay calm, but his fury was
barely contained.
The judge sighed, looking at Ryan. "Mr. William, please remain silent or I will ask for order in this courtroom."
Ryan clenched his jaw and nodded.
The judge turned back to Clover. "Mr. Maddox, do you have anything to say before sentencing is decided?"

Clover finally looked up. His eyes found mine first, then Ryan's. A slow smirk curled at the corner of his lips. "What's the point?
We all know how
this ends." Content below
My stomach twisted. He wasn't scared. He wasn't remorseful. He was mocking us.
The judge nodded, clearly unaffected by Clover's words. "Then I will proceed with sentencing." My breath caught.
Please. Please let this be over.
"In light of the evidence presented,
and the severity of the crimes committed, this court hereby sentences Clover Maddox to life in prison without the possibility of
parole."
I let out a breath I didn't even realize I had been holding.
Sarah covered her mouth with both hands, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. Ryan didn't move for a second, just staring
straight ahead, his face unreadable. Then, finally, he exhaled, his shoulders relaxing just the tiniest bit.
Clover was led away, his smirk gone, his face blank once again. I watched him disappear through the doors, knowing that this
time, he wouldn't be coming back.
It was over.

It would never bring back Ryan's grandmother. It would never erase the pain, the fear, or the nightmares. But at least now, we
could breathe.
Ryan turned to me, his blue eyes searching mine. He didn't have to say anything. I knew what he was thinking.
We had won.
We had survived.
And now, we could finally move forward.