It was already October, and cars were passing by while Jacob and I were eating dinner at a local cafe. Jacob had ordered some chicken fingers and some side of fries. I ordered a BLT sandwich.

While Jacob was eating, I took a sip of my tea. Jacob asked me what I was thinking about, since he could tell I had something on my mind. "Nothing," I said, after chewing my food, and swallowing. Jacob understood, shaking his head.

But as I looked around the cafe, there were only a couple of people inside, who were also eating their dinner. I came across this woman who was taking photos of us on her phone.

Before I took another bite of my sandwich, I laid it down on my plate, and the woman (who I think is a reporter) stopped taking photos and went back to eating.I stood up from the booth and I went to speak with the random woman.

"Excuse me, why are you taking photos of me and my brother?" I asked.

"Oh," the woman said, "I wasn't," the woman smiled.

"Um, well the phone was pointing right at us," I said, "Either you're stalking us, and I suggest you stop," I said. The woman sighed, "I wasn't stalking you, I swear," the woman replied back to me. I shook my head, understanding the woman, and I walked back to my assigned table and Jacob looked at me like he didn't know what to say.

"Who was that?" Jacob asked.

"Hm? It's nobody," I answered back to Jacob.

Jacob turned his head, and the woman was still sitting at her table. Jacob sighed, and he finished his dinner. I kept an eye on that random woman the whole time. I never experienced something like this before.

Jacob and I have had some really bad experiences with our local town. People began harassing my brother, and I, and I had to contact the police to report it.

One police officer told me if I received another text from a random stranger, I would immediately contact the police once again.

I thanked the police officer, she was very polite about the incident. Jacob was being bullied, and now being harassed. I was doing everything I can to keep Jacob from getting hurt.

Jacob felt bad about what was happening with me and the harassment I had about Jacob.

Someone wrote about Jacob was going to be murdered, and I was very upset that this random person would tell Jacob they were going to kill.

But it didn't seem to bother Jacob more than it bothered me. Jacob was silent the whole time whenever I was explaining to the police officer about the situation.

There are only four months left until Jacob goes to trial. I am nervous. Jacob is nervous too, but I was even more nervous about the trial.

Can things be a bit less complicated than it was before? I need a break from all this nonsense, and a little more clarity from other people.

I sighed, and Jacob was looking down and sad. I looked at Jacob feeling sorry for him. Jacob said he feels so anxious, frustrated, and stressed about everything that happened these last couple of months.

It all began in August of 2025, when it was Jacob's first time being arrested. I honestly think Jacob is a very strong person. Jacob was showing his emotions, and Jacob was trying to be brave.

I would have nightmares about Jacob's upcoming trial, the car accident, the death of Izza, Hannah's death sentence.

I just couldn't understand why Jacob is being accused of a crime. I think it's all a misunderstanding and a waste of time for the people of North Dakota, the law, looking at Jacob as the suspect.

It's been a long ride for Jacob and I, and we still have a long way to come before the trial is here.

I began searching for clues, even though Benjamin is working on our case. But I needed answers right away. I can barely eat, sleep, and get through the rest of the day without having to worry about Jacob's trial.

I have read online about private investigators; and how long it would take for them to come up with an answer to the solution.

But Jacob is the one who is going back to court in January. I am not going to wait at the last minute anymore. But, I couldn't find anything.

One morning, I received a newspaper article, where the headline said, "Is Lawyer Of The Year Ryan Morgan Covering For His Younger Brother Jacob?" I sighed, closing my eyes. I had a feeling the woman at the cafe was responsible for putting Jacob and I in the newspaper. Jacob came down the stairs after getting ready for school, and Jacob asked what's going on. I told Jacob it was nothing.

I just lied to Jacob.

Lying is my only way to protect Jacob. I am concerned about Jacob, and how he sometimes sneaks out of the house and goes to parties and gets drunk.

Jacob had a hangover one morning, and Jacob was beginning to drink too much.

Jacob is only fifteen years old, and could drink himself to death. Alcoholism is serious. I remembered drinking my first beer, when I was thirteen, and became an alcoholic.

My parents got me some help, I was put in rehab at thirteen. I was in rehab for six months. It was before I was diagnosed with cancer. I have been sober for almost thirteen years.

I guess I'm a fighter through a lot of things, but truly I feel like I have failed most of my life. I had put my parents through a lot of pain and hurt. But mom and dad were always supportive of me. I couldn't help myself.

I didn't want help from neither my parents nor anyone else who would help me. But I guess it was because I wanted for my parents to understand I can take care of myself.

No matter how hard life has become, I managed to survive a lot of bad experiences.

I can see Jacob as a survivor of a terrible accusation. Jacob and I are brothers, we are meant to fight each other's battles.