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“Ms. Ventura, cross examination,” says the judge to Carmine’s lawyer.
“Ms. Caruso, do you need a moment?” asks Carmine’s lawyer.
I shake my head. “No, I’m okay,” I respond, lifting my chin.
“You opened the door for Mr. Coretta, correct?” asks Ms. Ventura.
“Yes, but as soon as I saw him, I tried to close it.” My heart thrums loudly. Ms. Ventura asks me a few more questions before saying, “No further questions.”
“Redirect, Ms. Gonzalez?” asks the judge.
“No, Your Honor,” she responds.
“Ms. Caruso, you may step down.” I rise and meet Melida’s eyes, which are red from her tears. She has no idea how important it was for her to be here, to support me, and how much it meant that she offered to be here before I even asked her to do it. She’s one of the most important people in my life and I’m not sure I’ve ever expressed to her how much.
When I take my seat, Melida whispers behind me, “Proud of you, Sol.” Silvia grasps my hand in hers underneath the table and squeezes, before rising to her feet.
“I’d like to call Amaury Mejia,” she says. The bailiff walks out from behind the woman at the desk and out to the waiting area. A minute later Amaury strolls into the courtroom, pushes the swing door open, and crosses toward the witness stand.
As soon as Amaury enters the witness box, he’s sworn in and then takes a seat. His eyes meet mine and he smiles. Then his eyes shift looking toward where Carmine is sitting, and his plump lips are set in a straight line. I can see his jaw shift as he cracks his neck.
Ms. Gonzalez rises. After asking Amaury to state his name for the record, she asks, “How do you know Soledad Caruso?”
“She’s my girlfriend.”
“How do you know Mr. Coretta?” she asks.
“I only met him one time. It was the day I saw him force his way into Sol’s house.” Amaury goes on to describe how he watched what happened from the street and then sprinted inside the house. How he saw me pinned beneath Carmine. How he neutralized and punched him thrice, spraying blood all over the place.
When Ms. Gonzalez finishes her questions, Ms. Ventura only asks two questions. When both lawyers finish, Amaury rises and crosses the courtroom, our eyes locked the entire time. I can hear him sit down behind me, next to Melida.
“No further witnesses,” says Ms. Gonzalez.
“Ms. Ventura, do you have any witnesses?” the judge inquires.
“No witnesses, Your Honor,” she responds. “Due to the pending criminal case, upon the advice of counsel, Mr. Coretta will be asserting his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent at this time.” Of course he doesn’t want to say anything, spineless coward.
“Mr. Coretta,” the judge says. “I must inform you that you have the right to testify if you choose. Or you can choose to assert your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, as represented by your attorney. However, if you choose to remain silent, the court can take it as a negative inference. Do you understand these choices?”
“Yes, Judge,” Carmine says.
“Which are you choosing, Mr. Coretta?”
Carmine’s eyes shift down to the paper in front of him. “On the advice of counsel, I choose to assert my Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.”
“Very well, Mr. Coretta. Thank you.”
The judge is reading her notes, the ruffling of her papers loud. Her pen is moving as she’s reviewing the papers in front of her. The silence in the courtroom is unnerving. My heart thunders in my chest and I wonder if my lawyer can hear the thrashing. What is the judge thinking? What happens next? She lifts her head, looks over to our table. “Based on the evidence presented by the Petitioner,” she says, shifting her gaze to the other table, “the Court finds the Petitioner has met her burden and I’m going to enter a permanent injunction for an indefinite period of time.”
Ms. Gonzalez squeezes my hand and drops her head close to mine. “Congratulations, Sol,” she whispers. “A permanent injunction for an indefinite period of time means he cannot come near you, ever. He can’t contact you, send you a message directly or through a third party.” My heart thumps in my chest, tears streaming from my eyes.
“You did it!” whispers Melida.
“Ms. Caruso,” the judge says. I look up, meeting the judge’s eyes. “We will have you leave the courthouse now. Mr. Coretta will stay behind to be served with a copy of the injunction before being taken back into custody. You’re excused. Ms. Gonzalez, if you would please stay behind so we can get you a copy of the injunction, which you can then send to your client. Court is now in recess.”
“Okay, Judge. Thank you.” I push the chair back and rise.
“Your Honor,” my attorney says, rising from her chair. “I’m going to walk my client out and will return shortly, if I may?”
