How

Lilian feels as if the floor had shifted from her, her ability to think feels compromised there is a dull ringing sound in her ears, and her heart is beating so fast it feels like it might fall off, she looks at her sister Dead in the eyes and feels she might spiral. 

  Flashback 

  On Monday when Lilian had been arrested she didn't know what to think about the whole saga her mind had shut down only Thinking about her sister, she found it hard to believe Caleb would help her if it was at the cost of his grandmother but she doesn't care about anything except for her sister she does wish to see her when she is taken to the interrogation room and asked all sorts of questions she doesn't answer. Even when the lawyer comes she is still silent her refusal to speak frustrates them but they can do anything.

In their country, a lawyer is granted the convict by the law after arrest and since it is not a dire case they couldn't physically interrogate her, she ignores everything going on around her until the next day when she is informed of her hearing. It seems the victim's family was very powerful in getting a hearing date so fast, this thought makes her more afraid can she fight this time she couldn't gather up the strength. She felt so tired and weak but she had to no matter what her little sister who is still sixteen and going seventeen if she lost this case Amber would be taken to a foster home there was no way the government would allow her to continue having custody of her sister if she does get convicted 

for the past few days, her sister's thoughts are all she is consumed with,  she tried to avoid thinking of Caleb and his reaction she prayed he would try to help her but she couldn't be sure the bond between them could ever be as strong as that of he and his grandmother. But today standing on this podium with her sister testifying against her makes her feel like someone has grabbed her heart, and is squeezing it tightly she wants the person to stop because it hurts so much that she feels as though she might die. Why Why Why she wants to ask to scream out but her body seems frozen and she just stares at her sister in shock.

  The court session had started normally until they had called her sister to the podium it had all gone downhill from then. 

"Your honor I would please like to call on the witness stand Miss Amber Evan, she is Miss Lilian's little sister " the opposing lawyer had said, shocked Lilian wondered why Amber had been called to the stand looking desperately at her sister but Amber avoided her eyes, she could see on Caleb face that he was also surprised by what was happening.

  " Miss Amber, please say this oath with me "

"I do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." 

"I do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give shall be the truth the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," Amber repeated 

" Miss Amber, I understand you are the accused sister" 

" Yes mam" 

"And you currently live with her "

" Yes" 

" Were you home on the morning of the 7 of April 2023 at 7:30 am"

" Yes mam"

" And on that day did you see your sister consume any alcoholic drink " the lawyer asks but Amber remains silent after a while the lawyer urges her.

" Please answer the question, Miss Amber"

" Yes, she had a cup of alcoholic wine before heading out ". 

" Did Miss Lilian have any history of drug abuse or alcohol abuse"

" Yes, my sister had been treated before for drugs"

"And is there any evidence that could prove what you are saying "

" Yes it is on her medical report" Amber replied emotionlessly 

  Lilian could not hold in her gasps her breath coming out in short takes LIE she wanted to scream it all a lie I didn't I don't drink but she knew it did not matter now as she watched Amber walk away. The drugs had been sneaked into her drink at a party she went to when she was sixteen. The drug was highly addictive and once a person took it if they were not helped immediately it would become worse, she had somehow gotten home safe that day but had told everything to her father who immediately arranged for her to be treated those three months of her life was the worse and she swore never to drink or take drugs again.

Flashback ends

  Amber is barely outside the court when she is dragged forcefully outside by Caleb to the car, her testimony has made sure her sister gets two years in prison as the family was not injured so the court ruled with leniency.

" Get in, " Caleb said harshly as he went to the driver's seat, the journey home was marked by an oppressive silence. Caleb had been silent and patient till they got to the living room before he erupted

" What the hell was that, why would you do that, I mean she gave everything for she would die for you, she was YOUR SISTER ", he shouts.

That was precisely why, I did it for her to save her," she says as she as tears stream down her eyes crying

"How is this helping her" Caleb asked confused.

" in the morning when you left, your grandmother had come but she had said she wanted to see. Amber recounts the words of Mrs. Aurora

Flashback

"I don't have time to spend on you," Mrs. Aurora hissed, her voice dripping with malice. Amber felt a shiver run down her spine as she listened, her eyes locked onto Mrs. Aurora's with a growing sense of dread. "So, you have to listen very carefully."

As Mrs. Aurora continued, the room seemed to close in on Amber, and every word felt like a threat hanging in the air. She struggled to maintain her composure, her heart racing as she absorbed the sinister implications of what she was hearing.

"Your sister is a thorn in my side," Mrs. Aurora continued, her tone menacing. "And she wasn't going away. But I had seen a loophole in the engagement contract, which gave me the way to get rid of her from my life."

Amber's breath caught in her throat. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, and she found herself trapped in a chilling conversation with a woman who appeared capable of anything.

"Now, I know you know how powerful my family is," Mrs. Aurora sneered, her eyes narrowing as she leaned in closer. "I have friends in high places. If I wanted to, I could make your sister disappear, and no one would find her or look for her."

Amber's hands trembled as she tried to process the horrifying choice being presented to her. Her sister's life hung in the balance, and Mrs. Aurora's threat was suffocating.

"But I want to help you out," Mrs. Aurora continued, her voice taking on a sickly sweet tone that sent chills down Amber's spine. "You can save your sister from certain death if you testify against her in court. But if she is released, just know that on that day, she will die."

The room felt like a pressure cooker, the tension unbearable. Mrs. Aurora's words hung in the air, a malevolent ultimatum that left Amber with an agonizing decision to make.

"The choice is yours, really," Mrs. Aurora concluded, her fingers lightly patting Amber's face with a cruel smile. "I hope you will make the right choice for your family. Goodbye."

As Mrs. Aurora departed, leaving Amber alone in the room, the ominous threat continued to reverberate in her mind. The weight of the decision she now faced felt insurmountable, and the room seemed to close in even further, trapping her in a web of fear and uncertainty.

Flashback end

Amber explained to Caleb that this was the reason she had been so lost in thought, terrified to reveal the truth. She whispered, "I don't think she'll ever forgive me for this. Did you see her face? It would have been better to hurt her physically than what I did."

Caleb fell silent, struggling to process the information. He eventually composed himself and vowed, "Don't worry. Your sister loves you, and she will forgive you. I will make this right. I promise."

" Don't worry your sister loves you she will forgive you ... I will make it right I promise ". Caleb says with a dangerous look on his face before leaving the house. 

  The house was enveloped in suffocating silence, leaving Amber feeling paralyzed. Unable to move, she remained on the floor, sobbing her heart out, haunted by the terrible choice she had been forced to