Shattered Trust: Matilda's Redemption

Chapter3

Day 91 of segro and the door was opened by the guard Greg. I had not received any food today or actually for 4 days so I was barely able to get up. The only water I had was in the hour I was out of my cell a day so I was probably dehydrated too. Greg rushed over to me with Jenny and helped me up. I couldn't stand up though. The beating I had received last night from the guard hurt like a bitch. My lip was busted and I probably had a broken jaw. My ribs were busted and I think I broke my hand smashing the fucker in the face. Greg picked me up and I was barely conscious at this stage and was so dizzy. I just wanted to sleep so I began closing my eyes. "Don't close your eyes, Matilda, you keep them open" someone said. I just smiled. Please when do I do what I'm told? My eyes closed and everything went black.

Beep, beep, beep. I slowly opened my eyes. What the hell? I looked to my side and could see a heart monitor and an IV. What the fuck? I look to the other side and Greg is sitting talking to the doctor and Jenny. Greg looked up at me and motioned to the doctor and Jenny who both turned to see I was awake. The doctor stood up and said "Welcome back Matilda. How are you feeling?" "Just peachy you know. I love a good beating to start my day" I replied. "Care to tell us what happened?" Greg asked. "Why? So you can run back to my family and tell them they are getting to me?" I spat. "What?" Jenny asked. "Come on, I'm not stupid. I heard the guards talking. I know that some of you are being paid to break me. I also know I'm never getting out of segregation. Why did you bring me to the hospital? I'm not allowed medical treatment" I asked.

The doctor, Jenny and Greg looked at me before Greg finally spoke, "The guards who were paid have been fired. You should never have been in Segro and it's not on the records. I couldn't find you anywhere and discovered you when someone named Jackie was asking a few guards about your whereabouts. I spoke to the chief and he sent me to segro to get you out. The guards who assaulted you are being charged but they won't implicate your family at all". I kept staring at him like he had two heads. "I am sorry about what they did to you Matilda but we want to help get you out of here for good. You need to tell us what happened. Jenny here will be your lawyer" Greg said.

Do I trust these people? Can they get me out? What did I have to lose right? It's only been three months and I am barely surviving in here. I just nod and say "Fine I'll tell you everything but first, why am I here?" The doctor went on to explain how when I was brought into the hospital wing I was dehydrated and malnourished. I had 4 cracked ribs and a fractured jaw plus multiple bruises littering my body. I would be spending at least 2 weeks in the hospital to allow my body to mend. Then it was my turn so I began.

"So I will start at the beginning, on the 5th of August my mum and I had decided to have a girl's day. She was taking me out of school that day just because she wanted to spend time with me. We hadn't told my brothers or father because they wouldn't allow it. My mum and I were heading down the stairs hand in hand when Harry my father's friend came out of nowhere and shoved my mother in the back causing her to tumble over the railing and fall. She landed on her head while I screamed. My father came running and saw my mother at the bottom of the stairs. I was frozen. Harry started screaming at me asking me how I could do that to my mother. Everything was a mess. Within minutes police and ambulance officers were flooding our house. My mother was pronounced dead at the scene and I was arrested. Harry gave a statement implicating me. I spent hours at the police station by myself. None of my family came for me. No lawyer was sent so I was given a legal aid attorney. I was charged with the murder of my mother. I couldn't speak as I was frozen in shock about what Harry had done. Harry picked me up from the police station and told me none of my family believed me and I was going to suffer for his entertainment. He dropped me to my home and that's when the abuse started. I was ignored and degraded by my family and after a few days, the abuse started. First, it was a few slaps and then it got worse. The night before my trial my father punched me in the face when he asked why I did it and, why I killed my mother. When I said I was innocent and that it was Harry he punched me and told me I was pathetic and deserved everything I got. He told me he disowned me and I was a disgrace to my family. My legal aid lawyer refused to listen to me about getting the camera footage from my home to see what happened and never questioned any of the witnesses in court nor did he call me to the stand to defend myself. Once I was sent here I was beaten the first night as a welcome from my family and then you all know the rest" I said.

It was quiet for a few minutes and Jenny had tears in her eyes. "Right well this time I am going to be your lawyer and I'm filing a suit to get you out of here" Jenny said. "If we do this I want to also be emancipated from my family. I will never forgive them for what they have done to me. I rather be in here than out there with them" I say. "Are you sure?" Jenny asks. "Yep they are no longer my family" I said. "Right well first things first. You will be put in the normal population. Try to stay out of trouble as much as you can so you don't get in trouble, that will help with the case to get you out of here before a retrial. Second, you will start school so you can show you are of good character and thirdly we will be meeting twice a week to discuss your case. I will gather evidence and build it from there" said Jenny. "How long will this take?" I ask. "Could be weeks, could be months. I'm not sure if we can get the footage from your family then you could be out in days" Jenny said. I won't hold my breath.