[ CW ] `` Save yourself . '' - use this line of dialogue in a story without using action movie tropes

Catherine would have followed him to the ends of the Earth at one point in time. She looked at James now, as the bailiff unshackled his arms and seated him next to his attorney in court. He was wearing an orange jumpsuit. She shivered thinking about it. Even now, after everything, she still wanted to save him and lay next to him one more night. She wasn ’ t sure how she would deal with the loneliness after he went to jail. No one had ever made her feel so complete before. She wondered if she would ever see him again. 
 
 Julia, the prosecuting attorney, distracted her with a pat on the shoulder as she walked by. Everyone stood as the judge entered the room. She noticed a man enter the back of the courtroom from the corner of her eye. She looked back and saw that it was Mark Ridgefield, the husband of one of the victims. He was a big guy with a full beard. His eyes were swollen from crying, but he stood tall in the courtroom. Catherine felt her heart drop like iron in her stomach. *James, how could you do this to other people? * 
 
 She was in love with a fictional character. The James she knew didn ’ t exist. She had to keep telling herself that so she could go through with this. Part of her wanted to just bolt out of the courtroom and never face this demon. But she knew she had nowhere to go, and they would catch her before she made it out of the building. She had lied to officers and hindered the investigation. She had one chance to make it right, or she would face the consequences with him. 
 
 Julia called her first witness. “ The prosecution would like to call Ms. Catherine Sutton to the stand. ” Catherine took a deep breath and stood up. She wasn ’ t sure her quivering legs would carry her up to the stand. When James turned his head and made eye contact with her, she froze. She could feel his disappointment boring into her. Her heart skipped a beat and she started gasping for air, a full-on anxiety attack coming down on her. She couldn ’ t do this to him. Memories flashed across her mind of them in bed, of them eating pizza and him gently wiping the strayed sauce from her chin with a warm smile on his face, of the way he used to hold her hand while they watched TV so gently she could barely feel his touch. How could she betray him like this. 
 
 Her legs were shaking so hard she couldn ’ t stand on them anymore. She dropped to her knees in court. She heard the judge yell something at her, but she couldn ’ t make out his words. She clutched her hands to her heart just to make sure it stayed in her chest. 
 
 The she felt a warm, gentle touch on her back. She turned around and saw Mark standing there, offering his hand to help her back up. She thought about his wife, Marie. She had been beautiful, and only 28 years old. They had a five-year-old daughter he would have to raise on his own now. A tear streaked down his face. “ Be brave, ” he whispered loud enough for only her to hear. She felt her strength come back. Still shaking she stood up and took his arm. He walked her to Julia, who helped her the rest of the way to the stand. 
 
 “ Just look at me, ” Julia said before she got to the stand. “ Don ’ t look at him. ” 
 Catherine nodded. She thought back to the crime scene photos Julia had shown her. At first all she could remember was the blood. There was so much blood. 
 “ Ms. Sutton, ” Julia said after she was sworn in. “ You originally told police that Mr. Bowman was with you the night of July 16th, did you not? ” 
 
 “ I did. ” 
 
 “ Was that true? ” 
 
 “ No, it was not. ” 
 
 She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She could see the bodies now. Six women, mutilated, left in dumpsters. She felt the anger coming up from her stomach now. She couldn ’ t help but look at him. He was staring right at her now, a cold look on his face. She locked eyes with him. 
 
 “ Do you know where he was that night? ” Julia asked. 
 
 “ No. I don ’ t. We were supposed to have dinner together, but he stood me up. I cooked eggplant parmesan. I let it get cold before I finally ate some without him. I called him four times, but he never answered the phone. ” 
 
 “ What time did he get home that night? ” 
 
 “ I don ’ t know. I was already asleep. He was in bed when I woke up the next morning. ” 
 
 “ What time did you go to bed? ” 
 
 “ Two a.m. ” She answered the rest of Julia ’ s questions just like they had practiced. She had lied for him twice, gave him a false alibi. James stared at her the entire time without moving a single muscle in his face. After Julia sat down, the defense attorney stood. He was a short, round man with a big personality. 
 
 “ Ms. Sutton, ” he asked. “ Why did you lie to the police. ” 
 
 “ I didn ’ t think James could have done it. I thought he was having an affair. I didn ’ t want him to be a suspect in a serial killer case. I thought that would ruin his career. ” 
 
 “ Ah, I see. Trying to protect him. Well, you ’ re not trying to protect him now. What changed? Were you offered some sort of deal to change your story. ” 
 
 Catherine took a deep breath. Julia told her he would ask this question. 
 She thought about the moment she decided to take the plea deal. The crime scene photos were spread out in front her. She had been sobbing uncontrollably. She was holding on to a photo of Mark, Marie, and their daughter, her hands shaking. Julia sat down next to her sympathetically. 
 
 “ Look Catherine, he did it. We will convict him. You don ’ t have to go down with him. I know you didn ’ t hurt these women. You were trying to protect someone you loved. There ’ s nothing you can do to help him now. Save yourself. ” 
 
 So she did. 

