**Annabelle**
"Day Five."
Five days I've been going to the psychologist. After my outburst, I refused to let Fallon go for hours. When I finally did, I started crying. Prison broke me. I was innocent yet they threw me in there like some animal and it snapped something in me. I just couldn't function properly.
I refused to talk to my shrink so she suggested a journal where I could write anything I felt like writing and afterwards,I'd hand it over to her. So here I am, on my fifth day writing anything that comes to my mind.
Fallon refuses to say anything about my case. I have less than a week before my first appearance in court and the only thing he says is "I'm handling it." The only thing I can do is trust him.
Trust. I scoffed a little, dropping my pen.
At this point, I trust absolutely no one. Someone clearly framed me for what happened. Someone clearly wants me to go down so who do I trust? No one but there's Fallon, he didn't abandon me, he's still trying to do whatever he can do to help. Over two decades later, our paths are still intertwined.
First in college after he broke me then I came to the city and became his girlfriend for hire, then I travelled and came back and became his partner and now he's the only thing standing between me and jail. It almost seems as it destiny doesn't want us apart. Almost.
Richard. The last I saw him was at the precent. Fallon obviously blames him for part of my affliction but I can't hold anything towards him. He was only doing
his job and it's not his fault I was indicted. I just hope Fallon sees reason as well.
Sighing, I dropped my pen deciding I had written enough for today. I shut the book and raised my head to hand it over to her.
She fed her eyes on my words and I watched her carefully.
"Mr Fallon seems to appear in your notes a lot of times."
"Everything that's happening is connected to him I guess."
"That's fair enough."
"I'll see you tomorrow."
I got up to leave.
"Miss Sinclair..."
She called out making me turn back
"Wear your flaws like an armour and it can never be used to hurt you."
She says and her words hit me like a train.
"See you tomorrow."
She added a few more words in a tone of finality. My hands were left resting on the knob. I couldn't move. My flaws were definately getting indicted and prison of course. I've been so focused on hiding behind them, letting them define me and letting them destroy me from the inside but maybe if I come to terms with them and learn to live with them, I might get better.
"Thank you."
I breathed out and walked away.
"Hi."
Fallon greeted handing me a smoothie.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"Not really. How was today session?"
"An eye opener. I think I'm on the road to recovery."
"That's amazing. Annabelle, I need to tell you something. Hiding things never got me anywhere."
"Ohh..."
I said short of words.
"Ava gave birth prematurely a few days ago."
He started and my mouth formed an o.
"Congrats on being a father I guess."
I said forcing a small smile.
"I'm not."
"What's wrong with the baby?
"
I asked concerned.
"Nothing. He's healthy according to the doctors but the child isn't mine."
"What are you saying Fallon?"
I chuckled nervously.
"I'm saying Ava had a dark skinned child which means he isn't mine."
"What!"
I half yelled.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. You were in a bad place."
"I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. It might be selfish but I'm glad the child isn't mine."
"Do you have any idea who the father is?"
"No. But that's not what's on my mind. We need a lead to your case I'm sure it's one of her co workers."
Suddenly, something clicked.
"Co workers?"
I asked.
"Yeah. What's wrong?."
"That man who was killed, Nelson Quint, he worked in the same company as Ava."
I revealed and we both paused.
"You don't think..."
"It can't be."
We said simultaneously.
****