We could move on.
The courtroom was already half full when we walked in. My parents sat in the first row. Omni was beside them, scrolling through her phone, butlooking up when she saw us. We hugged my family as we took our seats next to them.
On the other side of the aisle, Cassie’s parents sat together, looking small and defeated. Mrs. Patterson had balled-up tissues in her fist. Mr. Patterson stared straight ahead; he couldn’t bear to look at anyone.
And then there was Cassie.
She sat at the defendant’s table in an orange jumpsuit, hair pulled back, no makeup, looking nothing like the woman who used to bring me coffee every morning or organize my schedule. She looked thinner. Tired. Worn down in a way that almost made me feel bad.
Almost.
Then she turned and saw me with Halo, and her whole face changed. Her jaw tightened. Her eyes went stiff. And I saw the same fury, the same obsession that had started all this in the first place.
“All rise.”
Judge Brennan walked in—a Black woman in her fifties with silver locs and a face that said she didn’t tolerate bullshit. She sat, adjusted her glasses, and looked out at the courtroom.
“Be seated.”
Everyone sat. The room went quiet except for the sound of Mrs. Patterson sniffling. She was doing too much. She knew her daughter needed help. I wasn’t the first person she’d stalked.
“We’re here for the sentencing of Cassandra Marie Patterson,” Judge Brennan said, flipping through papers. “Ms. Patterson has been found guilty of first-degree arson, criminal stalking, harassment, and violation of a protective order.”
She looked up at Cassie. “Ms. Patterson, please stand.”
Cassie stood, her lawyer beside her. She looked so small standing there, but I knew better. Small didn’t mean harmless.
“Before I issue your sentence, do you have anything you’d like to say?”
Cassie’s lawyer leaned over and whispered something. She nodded, then turned to face the judge.
“I just want to say—” Her voice was quiet, shaky. “I made a mistake. I was going through something, and I didn’t handle it the right way. I know that now.”
Judge Brennan didn’t react. Just waited.
“I loved him,” Cassie continued, her voice getting stronger. “I gave him everything. My time, my energy, my loyalty. And he just—” She stopped herself, swallowed hard.
I felt Halo freeze beside me.
She turned then, looked directly at me. “I’m sorry, DaVinci. For everything. I never wanted to hurt you. I just wanted you to love me back, but you couldn’t, so I had to take matters into my own hands, baby. We were supposed to find the next home together.”
The courtroom was dead silent. I shook my head and rolled my eyes.
Judge Brennan let the silence sit for a moment, then leaned forward. “Ms. Patterson, I’ve read the psychiatric evaluations. I’ve reviewed the evidence. And I’ve listened to your statement.”
She paused, took off her glasses. “Love is not a justification for arson. It’s not an excuse for stalking. And it certainly doesn’t give you the right to threaten another person’s life.”
Cassie’s face crumpled.
“You had multiple opportunities to walk away,” the judge continued. “Mr. Bryns made it clear he was not interested. He filed a restraining order. He changed his security protocols. He did everything within his power to protect himself. And you ignored all of it.”
“But—”
“I’m not finished.” Judge Brennan’s voice was firm. “What concerns me most, Ms. Patterson, is that even now, you’re not taking full responsibility for your actions. And that tells me you’re not ready to re-enter society.”
Mrs. Patterson let out a sob.
“Therefore,” Judge Brennan said, “I’m sentencing you to seven years in state prison, with the possibility of parole after five, contingent upon successful completion of a psychiatric treatment program.”
