One year ago today

One year ago on this exact date, the most emotional time of my entire life ended with a verdict.  A Verdict of life without parole + 100 years to be served consecutively.
 
For those of you who are familiar with the legal system, or hell, those of you who aren't, you realize that is a long time.  A lifetime with a lifetime to follow.
 
What does that have to do with me, you ask?  I was a victim- NO. I am a survivor. Close to 2 years prior to that verdict a man broke into my home while I was sleeping and attacked me. By the grace of God I was able to fight.  But there were other victims, one of which was not so fortunate.  In the end this evil man was convicted of burglary, terroristic threats, kidnapping and rape.  He was given the maximum sentence for each one of them.  I will forever remember the experience of going through a week of trial, testimonies, pictures, seeing the criminal 20 feet from me, completely unremorseful.  I will never forget hearing the other victim's stories and feeling like someone understands me. I can still feel their palms in mine as I sat between them while we heard one testimony after another presented to a jury. We prayed and hoped they would know that this was a bad man.  I can still hear the impact statements of my fellow victims "I can't walk outside alone in the dark." "I am paralyzed with fear each time my dog barks unexpectedly." I have never felt such intense emotions as when I saw the victim of rape look into the eyes of her attacker and break down in tears.  I will always remember the support her husband had for her as he sat in the courtroom with white knuckles from his fists clenched while his wife recanted her story.  I still hear the DA telling the jury in his closing statement-  "We tell our children stories about monsters in jest, but this man- he...he,  is who we warn our children about." I saw evil and I survived.  I look back today, on my birthday and I think of the strength that was in the room on that day with me.  Two of the strongest women I will ever meet. I can still close my eyes and feel the circle of love that we have between us when we heard the jury announce their decision.  I turned to one of the girls and she was looking directly in my eyes.  "It is done she said, he will never hurt anyone again."
 
Happy, happy birthday to me. Justice- what a gift.