The Witness

I know you are going to find this unbelievable because I know I did, but I actually testified this morning. Truth be told and as a direct result of all the continuances, this trial had taken on a life of it's own. I was terrified to face the alleged criminal as I had spent countless nights wide awake, and many hours during the day as well, worrying about how much information he might have retained about me and whether or not he might show up my door to steal from me again.  I know how silly that sounds, but once your identity is stolen, you never know what might happen.  I have had countless issues as a result of this theft both with credit card companies and our very own bank. Not to mention charges from my own gas station that I did not make.  He stole so much more from me than my purse and an irreplaceable, perfect color pink Coach wallet (bitter, you are damn right!).  He stole my piece of mind.

Once I survived--barely, as I am wildly claustrophobic--the 22 floor elevator ride, it was a matter of sitting around and waiting to be called to the witness stand. Thankfully, we got to wait outside the courtroom so it was a little less stressful.  When it was my turn to testify, I was escorted into the courtroom by the DA and told to take the witness stand. I won't bore you with all the details, just one. I saw the DA rifling through something on the desk and then she headed toward the witness stand.  Having seen enough legal shows--remember, we are huge 'Suits' fans--on TV, I figured she was going to show me some exhibits. The first was a credit but the second threw me for a loop as it was my license that I had been keeping as a remembrance from where we used to live.  I never thought I would see it again and I could not believe that I was seeing it I the courtroom today. It was surreal. I thought I had regained my composure until the DA asked if I had given the alleged criminal permission to bury them at his house.  Huh?  He saved these items and buried them at his house?  Once I got over the creepiness factor--okay, truth be known, I am so not over that part yet--all I could think about was how just plain stupid it was to bury evidence of a crime in your own backyard. Honestly, I suppose he is not a fan of crime shows because everyone knows not to bury evidence anywhere near your house.  Right?

So this one is behind me, something to cross of my list of things that need to be done. Tonight I have resigned myself to enjoying this accomplishment...I will worry about the next one in November or at least when I get the next subpoena (that would be number 8 for that trial and yes, I am bitter about that as well).