I made no attempt to portray myself as a flawless business owner.
I’d made mistakes in administration and oversight.
During Loretta’s illness, I’d failed to supervise certain transactions closely enough. Our internal financial permissions also needed stronger separation.
Those failures were mine to acknowledge.
But I’d never approved the diversion of company funds.
Eventually, the court determined that the newly established evidence undermined the foundation of my conviction.
My petition was granted. The conviction was vacated, and the court declared me actually innocent.
Helen summoned me to her office when the ruling arrived.
“Rebecca, you now have a court decision recognizing your innocence.”
She passed me the document.
I read my name again and again.
I’d imagined overwhelming happiness accompanying that moment.
Instead, an enormous sadness left me unable to speak.
My legal status had finally changed.
But no court order could restore forgotten birthdays, years of confinement, or the countless nights I’d spent knowing nobody believed me.
