CONTENT WARNING: Sexual Assault mirroring current events. A lot of content was taken directly from court case documents. Rating changed to M.

Disclaimer: This is a completely unrealistic court setting for dramatic purposes only.

A loud door closed behind Alaina and she saw the judge walking up to the stand. "Good morning," the judge said monotonously to the courtroom. Almost every seat was filled, either by reporters or supporters for her rapist. She shuddered to think that the name and reputation of a family can be so powerful. "We are here today to go over the case of Alaina Pawloska versus Bryce Townsend. Mr. Townsend has been accused of two counts of sexual misconduct and has pleaded not guilty. The jury has been selected from eligible residents from the state of Michigan to assist on this case."

Alaina rung her hands nervously as she glanced over to the jury. She didn't recognize any of their faces, which was good. It was less likely they were from the area and knew the influence that the Townsend family had over their town.

After the judge began the proceedings, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Initial arguments went on for over an hour, as each lawyer read their prepared case. Alaina's was quickly losing focus, if not on purpose, until her lawyer called Bryce up to the stand. He was sworn in under oath, and sat down next to the judge.

"Mr. Townsend," her lawyer began, setting down his paperwork on the table in front of Alaina, the questions already memorized from weeks of preparation. "We all know why you are here today, so I will skip the formalities." Her lawyer spoke calmly, watching Bryce for specific movements and moments of weaknesses.

"But I'm not sure you know exactly why my client is here today, Mr. Townsend," he began walking towards Bryce. "We are here because you have altered the course of Ms. Pawloska's life forever. I cannot stress that enough. No matter what you say in the next few moments, nothing will ever change that."

"Objection!" Bryce's lawyer called out. "He's using ethos to -"

"Sustained," the judge said, stopping the outburst. "Carry on."

"Thank you, your Honor," he continued. "In your own words, what happened that night?"

Bryce shifted in his seat, obviously extremely uncomfortable with being questioned. "After the musical, we all went up into the old dance studio. We had some drinks. I danced with Alaina. And then we both decided to hook up." He said everything quickly, desperately trying to make the time go by faster. His voice was even, almost too even, as if he had said those exact words hundreds of times before.

"You said, 'we both decided to hook up,'" her lawyer repeated. "And how did you know, Mr. Townsend, that Alaina wanted to 'hook up' with you?"

"She kissed me first," he said shakily. Alaina could see his eyes beginning to well up with tears, and she narrowed her eyes. What did he think he was going?

"See, Bryce, can I call you Bryce? I don't think she did. Bailiff, can you Please pull up exhibit B 7? Can you explain these bruises?"

An image of Alaina flashed up on the old television. Her normally tanned skin looked so pale, and her bare legs, torso, and arms were covered with hand shaped bruises. The hospital gown that was barely covering any part of her body was dirty and tearstained.

Bryce burst into tears, shocking Alaina. "I - I didn't know, okay? She didn't tell me to stop, or maybe she did, but she seemed to enjoy what was happening," he was sobbing at this point, his cries echoing through the chamber. "If I would have known that, that she didn't want anything to happen, I would have stopped immediately. I never wanted to hurt her! I'm not a bad person, I just made a small mistake. Please - please don't ruin my life over something I didn't even know I was doing. Please, your Honor, can I step down?"

The judge nodded, "Take your seat."

Bryce covered his face as he walked back to the open arms of his mother. Alaina stared at him, not knowing how to respond to his blatant lie. Her heart hurt like it had never hurt before, and it infuriated her even more to see that his face, although claiming to be covered with tears, looked dry, even from across the courtroom.

Alaina wanted to scream. The lies that he was giving to the court absolutely blew her mind. How could anyone be so awful? And what was worse, Alaina knew that his disgusting manipulation was working on the jury. She could see it in their eyes; they believed him.

It was then the other lawyer's turn. Her mother squeezed her daughter's hand once again in solidarity, thinking Alaina would be called up to the stand. The lawyer had prepared her for the likelihood of this. However, no one could have guessed what would happen next.

"We call on Miss Erika Roberts to take the stand as a character witness and situational witness. Miss Roberts?"

Alaina's job dropped. Erika was Alaina's former best friend, and the last person she spoke to before Bryce committed his crime. Why in the world was she defending him? A fiery heat spread through her body and she felt as if she was about to implode from anger. Traitor, she thought bitterly as Erika was sworn in. She took her seat on the stand and Alaina couldn't help but stare her down, narrowing her eyes dangerously at the small girl in front of her.

"Miss Roberts," Bryce's lawyer Mr. Jennings began, a smug tone to his voice. "You were friends with the accuser, correct?"

Erika nodded. "Yes, sir. I've known her since our freshman year of high school. We were very close - I considered her my best friend."

"And Mr. Townsend?"

"I've known him since freshman year as well. We were all in my high school's musical together."

"And how would youscribe Mr. Townsend to someone who has never met him before?"

"I would say he's a smart, kind young man who has a bright future ahead of him."

Alaina tried not to scoff. Although they were no longer friends, Alaina knew Erika very well and she knew she didn't come up with that sentence on her own. She felt as if this whole thing was rigged.

"I see," Jennings continued. "And what can you tell me about the date in question? You were there before the alleged incident occurred, correct?"

She nodded. "Yes, sir. I was with both of them at the cast party after our last show. We were all drinking too much beer and we were all dancing together having fun. Bryce and Alaina were flirting and dancing with each other really closely. As the party died down, I saw Alaina making out with Bryce. It looked like she was initiating it."

Alaina blew up. "That's a lie!" She yelled, her words echoing around the courtroom, just as Bryce's sobs did moments before. Her father tried to get her to sit down; she didn't even realize she was standing.

Her lawyer took over. "I'm sorry, your Honor," he said, and the judge nodded.

"Please keep your client quiet during the testimony."

Alaina wanted to explode. Erika was lying under oath. They did not make out during the party and she definitely didn't initiate it. I wonder how much his family is paying for her to say that, she thought angrily as the questions continued.

"And what happened after the alleged assault, Miss Roberts?"

"Alaina and I met up in person and she talked about how much she wanted it to happen. She had a major crush on him, everyone knew that, and she was really excited that he finally noticed. During the party, she couldn't stop staring at him and she said she wanted something to happen." The lie rolled off of Erika's tongue a little too easily. Alaina could have sworn she made eye contact with Bryce, a silent agreement fulfilled.

"Thank you, Miss Roberts. Your Honor, I have no further questions."

Alaina was gripping the table as to not scream out again. Her knuckles were turning white, she was grabbing the wood so hard. Her father placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down but she shrugged him off angrily. Erika was lying, and what was worse, it looked like the jury believed her, just as she thought they believed Bryce.

"I am forgoing my closing statement, as I think that Miss Robert's testament is enough to show the jury that our client is unequivocally innocent."

He sat down, a smug look on his face. He glanced at Alaina's lawyer in an almost threatening way, knowing that he had won the minds, and more importantly the hearts, of the jury. The fire began burning inside of her once more. She was scared, she was so terrified, but she knew exactly what she had to do. She made eye contact with her lawyer and he nodded in understanding.

"Your Honor, for our closing statement, I would like my client, Miss Alaina Pawloska, to read a letter that she wrote."

Alaina stood up to be sworn in. "Do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, under the pains and penalties of perjury?" The bailiff said to her, her hand on top of the Bible.

"I swear," she responded as strongly as she could muster. She took her seat in the chair next to the judge, feeling dirty to be in the same spot as Bryce and Erika. She pulled out a few sheets of paper that were folded up in the pocket of her blazer. Alaina cleared her throat out of nervousness. "Your honor, if I am allowed to, I'd like to direct this at Mr. Townsend."

The judge nodded. "Proceed."

Pulling from the absolute depths of her broken soul, she turned and faced Bryce. In a strong voice, she read out her letter:

Bryce,

You barely know me, but you've been inside of me, and that's why we are here today. I know you didn't think your actions would lead us to both be here, in a courtroom, months after you raped me. Yes, raped me. I'm not going to sugar coat what you did to make you feel better about what you did. No matter what happens today, you are a rapist, and you will always be a rapist.

Do you know what happened after you raped me? I had to go home and face my parents. I could barely walk, I was so sore, a dramatic contrast to how they saw me just hours before, dancing in the musical. I had to tell my parents that I was raped by someone who I thought was a friend. And I had to see their reaction. Do you know how hard that is? Do you know how hard it is to see your parents, who always know what to do, be shocked? And scared? And angry?

Do you know what happened after that? I had to go to the hospital. I was ushered into a small, sterile room, where all my clothes were confiscated to be kept as evidence. I can still smell the metal instruments in the table and the sanitized odor of the hospital. It haunts me. I was swabbed and prodded in every orifice of my body. I was photographed with the nurses measuring the bruises you gave me from holding me down in the dance room. I was tested for HIV.

After the final vial of blood was drawn, I was given a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt since the only item of clothing I was allowed to keep was my pair of earrings. I wasn't even allowed to keep my shoes, my dance shoes, that I had been wearing. I was told by the doctor to try to go back to having a normal life and not let the trauma change my life. But he had never been raped and could never understand that my life would never, ever return to my parents took me home from the hospital, I was finally able to take a shower. I turned the water up as hot as it could go to burn your touch off of my skin. I looked at myself in the mirror for a long time after I was done. I hated myself. I felt dirty. I felt used. I wanted to take my body off and leave it at the hospital with everything else that was taken from me.

Do you know what it's like to know that a part of you died? I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't get the disgusting feeling of anxiety out of the pit of my stomach. I isolated myself from everyone that I loved because I didn't want them to feel an ounce of what I was feeling.

Do you know what it's like to be brave and make a choice that you know would alter your life forever? When I decided that I wanted to press charges, I knew I would be ostracized from school because you and your family are so loved. Nobody could believe, or wanted to believe, that you could do something like this. That you are a monster. But I did it anyway, because it was the right thing to do.

Do you know what it's like to lose everyone that you thought cared about you? As soon as the news broke to the school, everyone who I had once considered a friend, called me a slut. A whore. A bitch who was asking for it. I was tortured for weeks before I had to spend the next semester homeschooled by my mother because I was receiving death threats from your friends. No one blamed you. Everyone blamed me.

Do you know what it's like to feel like you can no longer live in your home? I never wanted to leave Detroit, but my dad got a job offer that would take us across the country to Washington state. As soon as we left, I received texts and emails calling me worthless and that I was right to be afraid. That no one was surprised that I was running. That I should be scared that one of the most influential family in the state would come after me.

Do you know what it's like to watch someone run from their own mistakes? I never thought you would hire a powerful attorney, witnesses and a private investigator to try to find details about my life to use against me. I knew you would try to find loopholes in my argument to invalidate me and try to prove that this whole entire thing was consensual, or at the very least, a misunderstanding… that instead of owning up to your own disgusting mistake, you try to blame me, the victim. For that, I have pity for you. The delusion that you are above your own choices is absolutely unreal and I hope that you grow out of it.

Do you know what it's like to be asked 100 times what you were wearing? As if what I chose to put on my body gave anyone the right to take it off of me.

Do you know what it's like to watch you and your witnesses lie under oath and say that I said yes? Do you know what it's like to watch someone who can lie so easily and so believably speak words that could not have been further from the truth?

Do you know what it's like to pity someone who altered your life? Yes, Bryce, I pity you. I know that even after hearing my words, you won't get it. You will never truly understand what you did, not because you're not smart enough, but because you are confused about how you are in this situation because of your privilege.

This isn't a story of two teenagers hooking up. This is sexual assault. And even though I was bullied and threatened, up to the moment that I walked into this courtroom by your supporters, I do know one thing. This event doesn't define me, but it will define you. No matter what you tell yourself to make it easier for you to sleep at night, that brief decision where you chose to push up my skirt will stay with you for the rest of your life.

And in ten years, when you're married and have children, I hope you think about this moment. I hope you remember me telling you these things and asking you these questions to your face and not through a lawyer, like you did with me. I hope you remember me looking into your eyes and calling you a rapist. I hope you remember what you did for me for the rest of my life. Because at the end of the day, I am strong. I will get through this. I will move on. But you - you will always be a rapist.

Sincerely,

Alaina Pawloska

The courtroom was sitting there in stunned silence. Nobody knew exactly what to expect in this case, but they didn't expect something like this. Alaina paused, not knowing what to do. The strength that she had reading her letter was dwindling by the second and she no longer felt brave. She desperately tried to choke back her oncoming sobs.

"Can I step down your honor?" She said timidly to the judge. Her hands were physically shaking and she wanted nothing more than to run into the arms of her parents. She could feel every eye on the courtroom on her and she wanted to disappear.

The judge cleared his throat. "Yes, Miss. Pawlowska. Please return to the bench." Alaina didn't need to be told twice. She stood up from the stand and walked towards her parents. As soon as she reached them, her mother engulfed her into a bear hug.

"I'm so proud of you, Alaina," she whispered. They stood there for a moment, ignoring the stares from everyone around them. She immediately felt stronger in the grips of her mother. I can do this, she thought. I can do this.

After a minute they pulled away and they both sat back down in their seats, waiting for the judge to continue. "We will take a brief recess while the jury deliberates. Please return back here and be back in your seats in exactly one hour. If more time is needed, we will adjourn for the day at that time."

A murmur erupted in the courtroom when the recess began. It almost reminded her of her high school's lunch room when there was gossip going around. She turned to her parents sitting next to her.

Alaina shakily sighed. "And now we wait."