"Can Myles Langston please approach the stand,"
The courtroom was so silent you could hear a pin drop as I took my seat on the stand.
My eyes darted across the courtroom until they landed on brown eyes that filled me with warmth.
You got this
Jesse mouthed before giving me an encouraging smile, instantly causing the nerves I felt to vanish.
Soon a bible was placed in front of me to place my hand, signifying that it was time for me to take the oath.
"Do, you, Myles Langston, swear by the Almighty God, to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." The officer before me said.
"I solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," I affirmed.
"We may proceed," The judge said nodding for the officer to step away from the stand.
"Today is the day that a decision will be made upon the custody of Kyle Briers. First, we will hear Myles Langston's testimony, from there we will allow a cross-examine of the testimony from both sides. Finally, both attorneys will give their closing remarks and the jury will decide on a verdict." The judge declared.
"Mr.Langston you may begin whenever you're ready," The judge stated with the nod of her head.
"Before I begin I would like to say thank you to the judge and jury for giving me the opportunity to speak today," I began.
"I believe we can all agree a loving parent is someone who cares for their child and loves them with every fiber in their body. Someone who goes out their way to ensure the safety and happiness of the child, and put aside their own selfish desires for the betterment of their child's life."
"However, growing up I did not have the privilege of having a loving father. Instead, I had someone who belittled my beliefs and dreams, tried to silence my mouth in fear of ruining their reputation, someone who failed to show up to any school functions and important events such as my birthday, blatantly making it clear that they cared far more for their work than their own child. I had someone who manipulated their child to attend events to portray the perfect family only to leave said child alone at home to go out drinking. I didn't have a father, but someone who neglected and degraded my existence, only acknowledging me when it benefited them."
"Quite frankly Liam Fields does not embody the characteristics of a loving parent," I stated my gaze falling upon my father who was glaring venomously at me.
I didn't shy away from his glare and gave him a hard stare of my own, letting him know I was no longer that scared boy who desired the validation of his father like I once was.
"Despite this, I had an incredible mother. Who served the role as both a father and mother. Not once did she miss one of my little league torments. I still remember whenever I was sick she would make my favorite soup and stay up watching cartoons with me to make me feel better. Or how when I couldn't go to bed she would crawl into bed with me and sing softly into my ear until I fell asleep."
"Not only did my mother care for me, but she cares for Kyle. Kyle may not be her biological son, but she was there the moment he was born unlike my father who was away on business," I said scoffing at the thought.
"She took another women's child, the same woman my father had an affair with, into her home, and not once did she treat him with contempt, she showered Kyle with love and continues to raise him with such unrivaled affection," I stated shooting a glance at my mother who had loving tears in her eyes as she looked at me proudly.
"My family means the world to me, especially my little brother Kyle, who has been raised in a household filled with love since he was home in the absence of our father. I will not allow Kyle to endure the same emotional trauma I have experienced, he deserves the world. He deserves to dream how big he wants, to have someone who lifts him up when he falls and not tear him down, he deserves to feel loved. And my father can not and will not provide that for him." I continued on, my gaze shifting from my father's and back to the jury.
The eyes of the jury were attentive, the love for my brother not hidden in my tone.
"My father's attempt to gain custody over Kyle is indeed another attempt to hurt my mother and me once again. However, this time I will not stand for it and let my brother Kyle end up in the crossfire. To put it simply Liam Fields is incapable of being a father and granting my brother a house filled with love and care. Instead, he will continue to neglect Kyle as he's done before and has done in the past and is doing now."
"Mr.Fields doesn't know one thing about his own son and if you don't believe me, I appeal for the court to ask Mr.Fields these three simple questions that any parent should know."
"What are the child's full name, date of birth, and age of the child."
"I plead with you, jury please don't allow Kyle to become a victim to my father's power game. Every child deserves to be in a home filled with love and where they feel safe, and that is exactly what Kyle feels when he's with my mother. If only you could see the large grin that's displayed on his face as he dances with my mother in the kitchen or the excitement on his face when he comes home from dance practice or the laughter that rings through the house as he watches Spongebob on a Saturday morning with my mother and me."
"My presence here isn't to rant about my sob story of childhood or lack of a father, but ensure that my brother continues to smile as if there is nothing in the world that can bring him down."
"If there's anything you take away from my testimony today, then take away this. Can you live with yourself knowing you have taken a child from a happy home and into one of unhappiness?"
With those final words, I released a soft breath.
My chest felt lighter, finally having the opportunity to speak on the things that weighed me down these past few weeks.
More like few years.
You did great
Jesse mouthed a proud grin on her face causing my lips to tilt up into a soft smile.
"Thank you, Mr.Langston," The judge said after I finished my testimony.
"Mr.Richards, you may now approach the stand to perform your cross-examination," The judge stated.
"Thank you, you're honor," Mr.Richards, my father's attorney said as he approached the stand, sending the jury a charming smile.
Daniel Richards was a viper, he had a sharp tongue and wasn't afraid to use it.
He was known for cutting down his opponents, his tactic being fear and dominance to cause those on the stand to submit to him and saw anything that would get his client a win.
He didn't care about morals and was rumored to have used unethical measures at times to silence witnesses for his clients who weren't so innocent.
In one word he was scum but made a great lawyer.
Lucky for me I've dealt with many men like Mr.Richards, one of them being my father.
"Mr.Langston, you claim that your father wasn't around as a child, is that right?" He questioned.
"Correct," I replied keeping my face blank.
"Would you say part of that reason was that he had a busy work schedule. I mean especially with him being the top lawyer in California," He probed his tone seeming innocent though I could see the cruelty in his eyes.
"Partially," I replied still not giving any emotion.
"Is your father in the wrong for going out every day to ensure that there was a steady income coming into the home, and ensure that there was food on the table. I mean a father who loves his child would do everything he can to provide for his child would he not," He stated a small smirk playing on his lips.
He was baiting me
"You see Mr.Richards," I began my tone deathly calm.
"I might have agreed with you if it wasn't for that fact I discovered that many of the long get-aways my father took for work were actually weekend getaways to play golf or go off drinking with his friends. My father took many vacations, yet I don't recall my mother ever going with him. In regards to income, my mother is a successful real estate agent who is constantly busy selling houses, yet she made time to raise two children and be actively a part of their lives. With that being said if my father truly wanted to spend time with us he could've of. Bringing in a source of income doesn't mean you're a good parent, it's the bare minimum if you ask me." I said wiping the smirk off Mr. Richards's face.
He was upset that I didn't fall into his trap.
"I would say your father does care about you, especially when he tries to stop you from participating in such a dangerous sport such as boxing," Mr.Richards said any trace of irritation leaving his face.
"More like belittling my dreams of becoming a professional boxer and stating that I'm wasting my life away, instead of becoming a lawyer like him," I retorted.
"I admit maybe my client's delivery could've been better, but it's clear he only wants to keep you safe and out of harm's way. I mean it's quite common that you come home with bruises, do you not." Mr.Richards said a small smile on his face.
My jaw clenched at how he was trying to twist the situation around, so my father looked like the good guy.
"If my father was home, he would know those bruises are actually from lacrosse practice," I said using up my cover-up story.
"But, you still box, do you not. In fact, I heard that you won the semi-finals at the Golden Gloves," He proclaimed haughtily.
"I do because it's my dream. It's what I'm passionate about and through boxing, I've learned to be more patient, a better critical thinker, and more observant. All skills that have made me successful in school taking the top 1% of my class. Yet, again this is something my father would know if he was around." I said holding back a smirk.
"I understand that boxing isn't the safest career, but it's what makes me happy. Isn't what every parent wants is for their child to be happy," I finished off.
I could see the anger in Mr. Richards's eyes knowing that his usual tactics weren't working on me.
"If you have no other questions Mr.Richards please take a seat," The judge stated after I manage to stump him.
"No more, your honor," He gritted out through clenched teeth before making his way back.
"Mr.Harris you may now approach the stand," The judge declared.
Willaim made his way up to the stand making sure to greet both the judge and jury before proceeding.
"Myles, during your testimony I heard that your father would often neglect his duties to take care of you and get drunk, did I not," William said as I nodded in agreement.
"Do you have any way to prove those claims?" William questioned making a smirk appear on my face.
"I do, actually," I stated as I reached to pull out my phone.
"Objection your honor, this could be tampered evidence to make my client look bad," Mr.Richards stated.
"I'll allow it and afterward we can determine its trustworthiness," The judge declared before urging us to proceed.
"I think you will find this quite trustworthy your honor. This is a voicemail my father sent me a couple of nights ago," I declared before playing it into the mic.
"You ungrateful bastard!" Liam yelled his words slurred, indicating his drunkenness.
"How dare you testify against me, do you know who I am! I am Liam Fields and I can ruin the pathetic lives of you and your worthless mother. You're going to wish you never defied me, once I win this case I'll make sure you never see that mistake of a boy, that you call your brother every again. Mark my words!"
Once the voicemail ended murmurs of disgust and rage ran across the room, some people in the jury shaking their heads in disbelief.
"Quiet," The judge said, silencing the room once more.
"Jury do you find the evidence to be valid?" She asked.
After a moment of quietly congregating amongst each other, someone from the jury spoke.
"The evidence provided has been determined credible, as it is quite clear that Liam Fields was the one speaking and was clearly intoxicated," They said causing my father to spew curses in anger.
"You lying bastard," Liam called out venomously, sending daggers my way.
"Calm down Mr.Fields, or I will remove you from the courtroom." The judge warned causing my father to quickly apologize for his actions, stating he was acting out of anger.
"From that display your honor, I think we can both agree that I don't have any more questions," William said as the judge nodded in agreement.
"However, your honor I would like to evaluate some of Mr.Langston's claims by calling Mr.Fields to the stand," William stated as the judge nodded in approval.
"Alright, Mr.Langston you may take your seat, thank you for your testimony," The judge declared.
I spoke a few more words of gratitude before making my way back to my seat.
Taking my seat beside Jesse, my hands immediately found hers.
"You were a pro up there," Jesse whispered beside me, giving my hand a gentle squeeze in reassurance
"Thank you," I whispered back, giving her hand a gentle squeeze back.
"Proud, of you sweetie," My mother said from behind me, giving me a soft squeeze on my shoulder as I turned to give her a small smile.
"Mr.Fields," I heard William say my attention turned back to the stand where Liam now sat.
"Mr.Langston proposed that there were three questions that any parent would know and I would like to ask you those questions," Willaim said.
"Objection! I don't see how that's relevant?" Mr.Richards said rising from his seat.
"If I may your honor," Willaim said calmly though I can see the teasing glint in his eyes at Mr.Richard's outburst.
"This is a case over the matter of custody. Clearly, these questions will help ensure which parent is more suited to have custody as it pertains to the child. These simple questions if answered correctly by you Mr.Fields can work in his favor." Willaim explained.
"And how will you know if they are right?" Mr.Richard's replied smugly.
"Earlier within the case, Ms.Langston provided me a copy of Kyle's birth certificate, which I have with me right now," Willaim retorted, showcasing the white paper to the jury to show that it is in fact a real birth certificate.
"May I proceed you're honor," William said clearly knowing he's won this argument.
"You may," The judge said before Willaim directed on his attention back onto Liam.
"What is your son's full name?" Willaim asked.
"Easy, Kyle Fields," Liam said confidently.
"That is incorrect, his full name is Kyle Langston Briers. Kyle took on the surname of his birth mother and before she died she made his middle name the surname of Ms. Langston who was there with her during the birth." William declared as my father's jaw clenched in anger.
"Next Question. What day was your son born?"
"June 9, " Liam answered with a bit of hesitance.
"It's actually June 2," Willaim corrected as Liam scoffed saying he was only off by a few days.
But, it was too much to seem like it was a slip of the mind.
"Last Question. How old is your son?" Willaim said.
"Um- four?" Liam said, his statement coming out as a question displaying his uncertainty in his answer.
"Correct," Willaim said as my father smile smugly.
"Though that is only one question correct out of three, and there was a slight hesitation in answering the final question," William stated.
"So, I didn't get two questions right, I was close enough to them," Liam said trying to defend himself.
"That is all I have your honor," William said.
Liam continued to grumble in anger at the turn of events as he made his way to the stand after the judge called him off the stand.
Soon the judge called Willaim and Mr.Richard's to the front once more to give the closing remarks.
After the remarks were done, the jury made their way out of the room to decide on a final verdict.
Every minute that passed caused anxiety to rise within me.
What if that wasn't enough.
What if they decide to give custody to my father, despite everything?
What if?
"Everything's going to be okay," Jesse said from beside, noticing my panic.
She began to trace patterns on the top of my hand to calm me down.
I released a soft sigh before leaning over to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you for being here," I said more than grateful to have her by my side.
"Always," She said immediately giving me a soft smile that I returned.
Soon the doors on the opposite end of the room opened and the jury began to file back in.
"This is the case to determine who would receive full custody of Kyle Langston Briers. Will the jury foreperson please stand? Has the jury reached a unanimous verdict?" The judge announced before urging one of the members to take a stand.
"Yes, we have, your honor," the foreperson stated.
They then went on to hand the judge a piece of paper to read over the verdict before handing it over to the clerk to read out loud.
"May everyone please stand," The judge said.
This is it?
"The jury declares that Elena Langston has full custody over Kyles Langston Briers and dissolves all rights from Liam Fields," The clerk read.
Instantly my mom jumped up in joy, tears running down her face as she pulled me into a hug
"We won?" I asked in disbelief, still trying to comprehend what just happened.
"We won, baby," My mother confirmed hugging me tightly.
My arms wrapped my arms around her just as tight, as realization dawned upon me.
We won
An ear-splitting grin made its way onto my face, tears of joy accompanying it as they flowed freely from my eyes.
I watched as my father stormed out of the courtroom in anger and I couldn't be happier.
He can't hurt us anymore.
We're finally free from him.