I Took His Prison Sentence. Now He Begs. novel · Chapter 20 of 24
Chapter 20: The Courthouse Steps
Willa's POV
The courtroom was full by a quarter to nine.
I sat at the front table in the green dress with Ben on my left and the prosecutor on my right.
Behind us the benches were packed with the crew, the women from the road, and every reporter in the county.
A new judge presided, a tall woman from another district, because the old one had asked to recuse himself that morning with a doctor's note.
She read the motion aloud.
Then she looked over her glasses at me.
"Ms. Soderberg," she said. "Please stand."
I stood.
"I have in front of me a recording, a bank record, a signed affidavit from a witness who watched a man contradict himself, and a video with two million views." She set down the pages. "I'd like to hear you say what happened. In your own words."
My mouth was dry.
Three years ago, in a quiet room, no one had asked me.
"I was in the passenger seat," I said. "Carter Linwood was driving. He hit a woman named Annika Doyle, and I made him stop, and I held her hand until the police came."
The room did not make a sound.
"Then he begged me to move over. I did. I lied for him because I loved him and because I was twenty-six and stupid." My voice held. "I'd like it on the record that I don't regret holding her hand."
The judge nodded slowly.
"The conviction is vacated," she said. "The state will pay costs. Ms. Soderberg, this court apologizes to you."
Someone behind me started crying.
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