Page 36 of Under Rusted Stars

“Objection. Relevance?” Jason says with an annoyed tone.

“I’m getting there, Your Honor,” Amy sighs.

“Hurry it up, Ms. Jessup,” the judge says.

“We didn’t have an engagement,” I say. “Jason just.. We just got married.”

“How did your relationship change when you got married?” Amy continues.

“He didn’t like me spending time with other people. He monitored my phone. He handled all of the finances, and I had to ask permission to spend money, or he’d be mad. Eventually, I just stopped talking to everyone because it always turned into a fight.”

“Did any of those fights ever become physical?”

“Yes,” I say, looking at my lap. I am picking at my nails, fidgeting to try and calm the nerves trembling through my body.

“Can you describe the first time it became violent?” Amy asks, and Jason shifts in his seat.

“He slapped me during an argument,” I say, my voice trembling. “He cried after and said he was just stressed and didn’t mean it.”

“And did the violence continue after that?”

“Yes.”

“How frequently?” Amy asks.

“I don’t know.” Shame burns in my chest. I feel like a fool. “Eventually, it was normal.”

The courtroom is dead silent when Amy steps closer and softens. “Olivia, did Mr. Hayes ever restrict your reproductive choices?”

“Yes,” I choke out.

“How?”

“He was drugging me.”

“How do you know for sure?” she asks.

“I found medication in his office when I was cleaning. When I looked it up, it said it was birth control.”

“What did you do?”

“I asked him. He said he was crushing it up in my coffee because I didn’t deserve to be a mother,” I say tearfully.

“Did you want to have a baby with Mr. Hayes, Olivia?” Amy asks.

“No, but… He was using so much of it that I’m afraid I will never be able to have a baby of my own.” I say.

“What happened when you confronted him?” Amy asks, looking at the jury this time.

“He hit me,” I say, choking on my emotions. “H-He… he strangled me… I almost died.”

“Is that when you left him?” Amy asks.

“Yes,” I sniff. “I filed for divorce and pressed charges the same day… he was arrested very shortly after.”

Jason scoffs, and the Judge speaks up. “Control yourself, Mr. Hayes,” he says firmly.

“Olivia, had Mr. Hayes strangled you before this incident?”