The Power of Testimony

RUINED
The leader shoved Teresa onto the concrete floor. The one who
was holding me followed suit, pushing me down as if I were a dog.
The intruders exchanged words, but I couldn’t hear them.
Maybe I’d ceased trying. What did it matter? I couldn’t do anything.
None of us could. All five of us were prostrate on the dirty basement
floor, cold, exhausted, and terrified. We were unable even to offer
consolation to each other.
Then they made us stand up again. They tied our hands behind
our backs with some kind of cord—​maybe a phone cord. As the
criminals went down the line, I snuck a glance at my friends. Marty
was visibly shivering. She didn’t have a flannel nightgown like I did.
When we were bound, the leader pulled Karen out of the line and
pushed her up the stairs.
Karen again? What more do they want? Oh God!
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