It's the day of the trial, which is estimated as a high profile sex assault trial that draws  intense media coverage in the last ten years. Usually those kind of cases takes much time , that if it can make it to the court of course. The Canadian public who is already fed by the media lies, make it happen. Not that I'm famous , but the ones behind it paid for it to be a huge scandal , and made sure to blow me out.

The alarm goes off. I groan while reaching my arm over to hit the snooze button.

'Fuck!'

I swear climbing out of my bed, stretching my arms up over my head.

As my usual routine,  I switch on the T.V. for the morning news. As you see, the alleged sex scandal dominates the media over the passed days concurrently with the international tournament . I turn the television to CBC channel , waiting to see what the channel would have in store for me.

Outside, the leaden sky promises rain.  It's supposed to be a cool day, a nice sunny April day, but after all that's what spring seems like by us. Cool and wet.

Half my way to the bathroom, the blonde middle-aged Odette Bow bursts out

' Today's trial in Selfridge's case that rocks the Karate tournament '

Says the journalist on the T.V. I groan walking into the bathroom to brush my teeth.

I start watching the news feed over the few passed days, as the sordid story keeps blowing wide open. I'm heartbroken,  the federation and the sport ministry believe instantly with no further investigation,  and they even confirmed my exclusion out the team only to not stain their picture. Nate was called for giving her testimony as a former cage fighter in the club with few other people I know. she came to stand by me and took the first flight the day after I left the tournament  . I badly need her support and everyone's else too.

I've been crying secretly in those few dark days. My career is about to end and all these years of bleeding and sweating are about to vanish because of this case. But  if I know something,  I'm pretty certain that I am innocent and there is someone in the dark using this case as pawn  to destroy me.


' What a nice tribute they paid for my retirement !'


As this sarcastic thought hangs in the air,  I turn the shower on, stepping inside and stand there,  letting the hot water beats on my back.  I have to be in the court at nine  after that bitch with Elaine something,  I even don't remember her full name,  has filed claims against me to the federation that in their turn- take it to the court.


It's going to be a long ass day!



I arrive the  court dressed up completely in dark shade of grey suit with a black bustier,  showing off my abs. My hair though carefully combed,  appears flat under my black beret. My face looks flawless,  perfectly still and rested with my arms confidently buried in my pants pockets of either sides.

For my luck,  Mr Bennett Thomas is my lawyer,  so I fear nothing. Apart from being a dear friend to my parents,  he is great in his job,  he never defends a case and lose it. He is about 6 feet tall and few inches, broad shoulders,  maybe 250 pounds. Olive skin tan, bald with beard, not too long, just right. You can see he's clearly taking a good care of himself while he's near 60s. But next to his handsome features,  he has that intimidating presence.

He assures me that I will walk out of this stupid trial like a whisp of hair in dough. As it's universally known , our system is as good as it is , yet it's  still imperfect. The sexual assaults trials are rarely reported and taken to the courtroom since there is a small percentage of incidents of sexual violence, most of those claims do not make it to the court. Thus, I still have a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach,  what if they get paid witnesses to give false testimony and therefore the possibility of bribing the Judge.

I sit opposite to the Judge who the later is sitting in front of the crown council which are the prosecutor's council and my defence council.  While I am behind them closed behind the glass sitting in the middle between  two police men, that makes me feel like I'm some criminal in first degree crime charge.

The trial is without jury for my luck, the court announces it is going to be private as well. No media no bullshit,  just few people attend it. The higher ups of the federation,  the law staff and close people like my parents, Anastazia , my agent and few people I know from the underground club and the dojo I work at as witnesses.

However, in the crown attorney , the prosecutor's defender is one of those cocky, arrogant and sneaky as hell kind of jerk that Mr Bennett has warned me from.

It's nine twenty and that lawyer still doesn't appear,  making the Judge fuming dissatisfied. Finally he storms inside  the courtroom. He is a small built, say about 5 feet and slim figure in boring grey suit,  carrying some charge papers in one hand and a brief case in the other. He apologises for being late giving some silly excuses. The judge excuses him after he takes a look at the lawyer certified ID.

Mr Bennett smiles warmly at me , the trial is about to begin.

The Dian, Ana, Johnny and Nate next to Vincent are all sitting on my left side. All on their nerves. Debby barely takes her eyes off me and that only to look at Mr Bennett who is smiling warmly at her as assurance.

' The following charges are hereby laid against the martial artist and cage fighter Maria Christie Selfridge for : sex abuse during a match game alleged to take place in 19th, March 2015. Blackmailing and physical aggression toward the prosecutor for two whole years '

The court clerk  reads upon us the charges I'm accused with.

' In matter of minutes I will prove this assaultive has hostled sexually  my client and threatened her all these two passed years using viole...'

I stop listening in his mid-speech, I couldn't help to force myself taking all the crap the short legs is trying to drag me to.

'Miss Selfridge, do you have anything to say on your defence? '

The judge speaks out startling my peace, perhaps he notices I'm going to take a nap

'In agreement with my client,  I will take it from here'

Mr Bennett says with a tight smile on his lips

'My client is still in shock and would rather not make any statement that could be interpreted to her disadvantage '

He adds, the short legs tries to object and make a comment but my lawyer snaps back, making him shotting me a look of pure hatred.

After everyone gives their introductions, the short legs calls for the 'alleged' victim.

Elaine stands up walking to the right seat beside the judge in the corner

'Please raise your right  hand. Do you promise that the testimony you shall give in the case before this court be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  So help You, God?'

The Clerk says

'I do'

She replies

'Please state your first and last name , your age and your job'

The short legs demands

' I'm Elaine James. I'm 27 years. I'm a Judoka and professional fighter. '

'You may be seated '

The short legs declares.

Elaine releases a breath as she sits down,  looking down trying to ignore my eye contact. Is it shame? Is it fearing? Regret? I can't assume  but it seems it must be shame after all. I have competed her only twice  in like 2-3 years.  Of course I have defeated her with knockout in both and only two occasions we have played. But I still find it odd to accusing me in sexual assault,  if it was real she must have done it from years now. I can't understand what's the story behind this ridiculous drama she's caused, yet the weirdest thing,  her lawyer is actually the Harpic company advocate.

I'm totally absent-minded during this boring trial,  witnesses coming and go giving their testimony and till this moment the prosecutor's defender still have weak evidences , no photographs and no recording that constitutes definitive proof.
Even the video of 10 seconds he shows the judge is not a proof , he failed miserably. Trying to manipulate the recording video from that game by adding a snap or two of a short blonde hair girl. Gosh they are sneaky as fuck.

I stretch my legs out, my ass muscles are aching more than I have ever thought possible. No wonder , the trial lasts over four hours unlike what the short legs hoped when he bragged about finishing in few minutes. As you see,  people always judge you based on your appearance. In my case the short legs is analysing evidences based on my tattoos and the way I dress up. You know, when someone doesn't have what to say they start babbling nonsense. Typical 😒 .

Mr Bennett interviews Elaine for a while, making the judge doubting her claims. How can a Judoka and a fighter get harassed without fighting back. After all I'm not super woman and definitely do not have super power or mind controlling anyone .

Nate suspected Elaine is paid to prosecute those false claims . I can't agree less neither Mr Bennett does,  that's why he's trying to use this theory against the bitch by turning the tables on her defender.

The short legs defends his client and begins addressing my past offences,  going as far back to my childhood,  to my games in the underground club to finally the present offence and even talks about the last incident in the dojo with that Latino guy.

I gaze at him filled with anger and loathe. This bastard is exposing my deep character  flaws in very public way and worse , this has nothing to do with the claims they're trying to trap me in. But I put my nerves under control. Now he is looking at my outer appearance which is cold and uncaring. I show him how I'm not even bothered to listen to all the crap that is flowing out his mouth like a verbal diarrhoea .

'These records,  your honor, are the ultimate evidence of Selfridge's savage nature '

He hands few papers to the clerk who in his turn gives it to the judge,  and then follows

' Those documents are from her school discipline councils and records and reviews about her attitude in the club where my client has been harassed,  pointing clearly  at her true nature as : an assaultive,  aggressive,  hostle and sociopath sadistic. This individual ,your honor- [ he turns back pointing his finger toward me] is a threat to society. She has grandiose paranoid delusions about her being superior '

The short legs says, his hands stuck behind his back staring at me, I snore smirking

' your honor,  I want to call on one last important witness in this case who was sadly molested by Selfridge's animal attitude, too '

He says, smirking at me, his assistant tells him something before he barks. To be completely frank , I didn't dare to lift my head up to see who is the witness,  in my mind there is only one person crossed it, troubling my thoughts.

I lift my head up only after I hear the voice,  that small,  feminine and very familiar voice mouthing the full name. My eyes grow wider. Suddenly I can't breathe, frozen in my seat. Now the game changes. The defence has absolutely the key that can ruin me and confirming the claims. Even if it was not against Elaine but Tyra.

A very unexpected twist.

The time I saw her I turn my head towards Nate who I find her already  looking back at me shocked. She is the only one knows about Tyra affair.

Tyra Smyth

A karateka blue belt who fought in the cage before leaving to wrestling independent federation. Around 5 feet tall , Caucasian,  average looking with pretty  face. I used to compete Tyra several times in the club when she was still with UFC. We were more than opponents, we were close to a kind of enemies if I can tell.

Once our dispute heated, her teasing to me reached the furthest point beyond logic when I forced her playing with herself- sexually- inside the cage after she insulted me by calling me 'cunt' . This word was just the last drop on the full glass. That was the only incident if Tyra did prosecute  me in sexual harassment she would won the case. Few time later, Tyra left the club and I learned by then, she was involved in some suspicious business.

I am readying myself for the confirmation,  two skanks prosecuting me is enough to make the judge believe. For my surprise Tyra denies all the claims leaving the short legs all frustrated after his interrogations. But he seems he doesn't give up, now he is trying sneakily to turn tables , trying to prove Tyra and I had an affair and she is covering me. But he gets an objection from my lawyer that the judge accepts it .

'For all the charges,  Maria Selfridge should  be sentenced as convicted in sexual harassment,  aggression,  blackmailing by using violence. Therefore she must be banned from any activity and actions related to martial arts...'

The short legs is spatting at me. I don't break the eyecontact with him either. Smirking at him not giving a flying fuck to his horsecrap.

Mr Bennett begins to argue with the sneaky  lawyer once again after his statement. Finally the judge orders the chatter box to take a seat, allowing to Mr Bennett to take his turn to stand. In a moment I have the feeling that the judge still seems moved and affected by short legs sneaky words. But the low eloquent voice  of Mr Bennett makes his words hang heavily in the tensed air of the chambercourt when he speaks,  using with his genius mind and with the right words Nate's theory.

Thankfully to them, the trial takes a dramatically positive turn. I feel a great relief. The witnesses testify that I've never been aggressive or attempt to assault them in anyway,  whether in the club or the dojo or even the gym.

The break lasts a little more longer when the judge appears giving his final judgment.  With the witnesses,  the major lack of evidences the trial ends, clearing all the charges against me, giving me my innocence back.