Half laugh.
Half sob.
Naomi whispered:
“He loved you.”
Linda’s face hardened again.
“He loved you too.”
The words cut.
Naomi nodded.
“I know.”
“Then why did you leave him?”
“I didn't.”
Linda pulled away completely.
The old anger returned.
“Don't.”
Naomi said:
“I went back.”
The prosecutor stood.
“Your Honor—”
Naomi turned.
“Please.”
The judge raised a hand.
The prosecutor stopped.
Naomi looked at Linda.
“I went back into the car.”
Linda shook her head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“There were witnesses.”
“They saw you outside.”
“Because they arrived after.”
“You said this at trial.”
“I know.”
“No one believed you.”
“I know.”
Linda’s voice cracked.
“You expect me to believe you now because you remember a flood?”
“No.”
Naomi took a breath.
Then looked at the judge.
“Your Honor, may I roll up my sleeves?”
The judge seemed confused.
Daniel looked at her.
“Naomi?”
She had never done this during trial.
That realization hit him immediately.
Naomi had always worn long sleeves beneath every civilian outfit before conviction.
In jail, photographs had shown only her hands.
At counsel table, orange sleeves remained buttoned at the wrists.
Daniel whispered:
“What are you doing?”
Naomi did not answer.
The judge nodded cautiously.
“Proceed.”
Naomi lifted her cuffed hands awkwardly and began rolling the orange fabric upward.
Her right sleeve first.
Then left.
The courtroom gasped.
Both forearms were covered with heavy, uneven burn scars.
Pale tissue twisted from her wrists toward her elbows.
Some marks disappeared beneath the uniform.
Linda stared.
Her face lost all color.
Naomi whispered:
“These came from your son’s car.”
Nobody moved.
Naomi turned her right arm.
A larger scar crossed the inside of her forearm.
“I broke the passenger window with a tire iron.”
“My sleeve caught fire.”
“I reached inside.”
“His seat belt wouldn't release.”
Linda’s knees weakened.
The victim advocate moved behind her.
Naomi continued through tears.
“I burned both arms trying to pull Ethan out.”
“He was conscious.”
“For maybe a minute.”
Linda whispered:
“No.”
Naomi looked at her.
“He kept telling me to stop.”
Linda’s entire body shook.
“He said the fuel was leaking.”
“He said the fire was underneath us.”
“I wouldn't leave.”