Chapter 13 - Fernanda Says It Out Loud
The judge asked Fernanda:
“Did you know Valeria had a severe allergy?”
“Yes.”
“Did you deliberately spray the product toward her face and neck?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know the product contained an almond-derived ingredient?”
“Yes.”
“Did you intend for her to have an allergic reaction?”
Fernanda cried.
“I wanted her face to swell.”
The room became silent.
“Did you intend for her to stop breathing?”
“No.”
“Did you know that was possible?”
Fernanda hesitated.
“I had read it could happen.”
There.
No euphemism.
Then:
“Why did you do it?”
“She said no.”
I closed eyes.
The judge asked:
“No to what?”
“The car.”
Then:
“Was the car something she owed you?”
“No.”
Fernanda’s voice broke.
“I thought she did.”
Then identity fraud.
“Did you pretend to be Valeria during a lender verification?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“My father told me she had already agreed and it was only paperwork.”
“Did you believe Valeria knew you were pretending?”
Fernanda stared down.
“No.”
“Then you knew she had not authorized the impersonation.”
“Yes.”
Then cooperation.
She admitted SUV guarantee was hidden.
She admitted her mother controlled verification phone.
She admitted father instructed.
That became evidence elsewhere.
Then apology.
The judge did not ask her to apologize to me.
Good.
Her lawyer spoke about no prior convictions, cooperation, age, remorse, not intent to kill, medical recovery.
Prosecutor spoke about deliberate known allergen, vulnerability, abandonment, planning, searches.
Sentence later.
Before sentencing, I submitted impact statement.
I did not call her monster.
I wrote:
“My sister had years to resent me without risking my life.”
Then:
“The fact she did not intend death does not make it acceptable to intentionally cause an allergic reaction and leave.”
Then:
“I do not want the court to punish her for jealousy. I want the court to sentence the acts she admitted.”
At hearing, Fernanda spoke.
“I grew up hearing Valeria got more.”
She looked at me.
“I never checked.”
Then:
“I used her name for things because my parents told me she would help if she was a good daughter.”
Then:
“When she finally said no in front of Alejandro, I wanted to humiliate her.”
She swallowed.
“I bought the spray for that.”
Then:
“When she couldn't breathe, I was scared. I still left.”
No excuse.
Then:
“I am sorry.”
I did not nod.
The judge imposed an effective custodial sentence a little over three years for combined assault and identity-related conduct, with supervised conditions afterward and restitution for medical out-of-pocket costs jointly where appropriate.
Not ten years.
No attempted murder conviction.
She had cooperated.
No prior record.
Still prison.
Then social media outrage said too light.
I ignored.
Law is not comment section.
Then Fernanda went into custody.
Patricia sobbed.
Roberto did not attend because his own restrictions? He attended with counsel maybe.
Afterward Patricia cornered me in courthouse corridor? Protective no contact likely. Security prevented.
She shouted from distance:
“You got what you wanted!”
I stopped.
Then turned.
“No.”
Security moved.
“I wanted a sister.”
Then I left.
That was only dramatic line I allowed myself.
Outside, Alejandro waited by car.
He did not ask how I felt.
He held door.
I said:
“Drive.”
We drove.
Then halfway to Mexico City I said:
“Pull over.”
He did.
I vomited beside road.
Stress.
After, he handed water.
I laughed.
“Romantic honeymoon.”
He smiled.
“Five stars.”
Then I cried for Fernanda.
That surprised me.
She had hurt me.
She was still my little sister.
Both.
I mourned person I thought she might become.
Prison would not automatically fix.
Not my job.
Then prosecutor called two days later.
Patricia wanted plea.
May you like
Her lawyer had seen Fernanda’s cooperation.
The family wall was gone.
