COURT AND BETRAYAL

THE FALSE WITNESS

When the time finally came for court, we thought justice might begin. Alisa was fragile but determined.

The courtroom was cold, the air was heavy with whispers. Refik sat there, smug, as if nothing he had done mattered.

A girl who lived below them was called a witness. She had heard everything, the screams, the fights, the threats. She was the one who could confirm what Alisa endured.

But rumors swirled that she was involved with our cousin Halid, that she was his mistress. And Halid was always on Refik’s side.

When the trial began, she entered the courtroom with Halid standing close beside her.

Her hands shook, but not from fear of the truth. Fear of disobedience.

As the judge prepared to hear her testimony, she suddenly collapsed, pretending to faint.

Gasps filled the courtroom. The proceedings stopped immediately.

I knew it was an act. I knew Halid had instructed her to do it, to sabotage the case. She was carried out and declared unfit to testify.

Just like that, the truth was silenced.

In the end, Refik was sentenced to only two years in prison.

Two years.

For kidnapping.

For torture.

For terrorizing an entire family.

We felt a brief sense of relief. At least Alisa could breathe for a while. But deep inside, we all knew the sentence was not justice.