The trial took place six months later. Lily testified via closed-circuit video in a special room with Maria Torres by her side.
“Lily,” the prosecutor asked very gently, “can you tell us about the game Justin played with you?”
In a tiny but clear voice, Lily described the abuse—how Justin touched her, where, how often, how it hurt, but he told her it was normal. How he said it was their special secret and bad things would happen if she told. There wasn’t a dry eye in the courtroom.
The most devastating moment came when Lily described the day she told her mother.
“We were eating and I forgot it was a secret. I told Mommy about Justin’s game. Mommy got really serious. She asked what game. I told her and she got very mad at me. She said I was a bad girl for telling lies about Justin, that Justin was good and I was being naughty.”
“And what did you do?”
“I cried. I told her it was true, but she said to be quiet and never say those lies again.”