So, here's the thing: I have never been in the situation I've been writing about. And I hope that none of you, ever, ever, ever, will be in this kind of situation.
I'm also sorry if me writing about this has triggered anyone or offended anyone. I try my best to leave trigger warnings before chapters that might have sensitive content.
However, this issue was a really important issue for me to write about, because I realize that the way our society treats rape cases/rape is...disgusting, really.
I read an article recently where a police department kept hundreds and hundreds of rape kits stowed away in a room somewhere, never looking at them, not even sending them to labs for testing. They ignored these cases, ignored these people who were being haunted by their own guilt and shame, blamed for a crime they did not commit. Worst of all, while the person who put them in that position was able to walk away, they were not.
They had to deal with the aftermath.
The depression. The anger. The guilt. The blame. The fear.
Life isn't the same afterwards.
I'm sorry if you've been through this.
I'm sorry if you felt that you didn't have a voice.
I'm sorry if the person who harmed you is still at large.
I'm sorry if you were asked, "What were you wearing?"
I'm sorry that you had to be treated this way, or are being treated this way.
I'm sorry if you don't have a support system through all this.
If you are in a situation like this and you need someone to talk to, please feel free to message me anytime, any day.
Or if you need to talk to anyone at all, maybe if you don't trust me, or I don't seem qualified to help you, that's okay.
I've included some hotlines below that you can contact. Some even have websites where you can do live chats.
I believe in you.
I'm not going to tell you to stay strong, because sometimes you can't. I'm just going to tell you to keep fighting. Please don't give up. You deserve to have a voice. You deserve justice.
Most importantly, you are not alone.
_____________________
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) / National Sexual Assault Hotline
1 800-656-HOPE | https://www.rainn.org/ [click external link to be redirected here]
Montgomery, AL 334.264.0123
Juneau, AK 907.586.3650
Phoenix, AZ 800.782.6400
Fayetteville, AR 501.246.3276
Sacramento, CA 916.446.2520
Denver, CO 303.839.9999
East Hartford, CT 860.282.9881
Wilmington, DE 302.761.9800
Washington, DC 202.232.0789
Tallahassee, FL 850.297.2000
Atlanta, GA 404.815.5261
Tamuning, GU 671.647.5351
Hawaii State Coalition for the Prevention of Sexual Assault Honolulu, HI 808.733.9038
Boise, ID 208.384.0419
Springfield, IL 217.753.4117
Indianapolis, IN 317.624.2370
Des Moines, IA 515.244.7424
Topeka, KS 785.232.9784
Frankfort, KY 502.226.2704
Hammond, LA 225.372.8995
Augusta, ME 207.626.0034
Silver Spring, MD 301.328.7023
Boston, MA 617.248.0922
Washington, DC 202.265.6530
Okemos, MI 517.347.7000
St. Paul, MN 651.209.9993
Jackson, MS 601.948.0555
Jefferson City, MO 573.634.4161
Helena, MT 406.443.7794
Lincoln, NE 402.476.6256
Nevada Coalition Against Sexual Violence Las Vegas, NV
Concord, NH 603.224.8893
Trenton, NJ 609.631.4450
Albuquerque, NM 505.883.8020
Albany, NY 518.482.4222
New York, NY 212.229.0345
Raleigh, NC 888.737.CASA (2272)
Bismarck, ND 701.255.6240
Cleveland, OH 888.886.8388
Oklahoma City, OK 405.524.0700
Portland, OR 503.230.1951
Enola, PA 717.728.9740
Providence, RI 401.421.4100
Columbia, SC 803.256.2900
Pierre, SD 605.945.0869
Nashville, TN 615.386.9406
Austin, TX 512.474.7190
Salt Lake City, UT 801.746.0404
Montpelier, VT 802.223.1302
Charlottesville, VA 434.979.9002
Richmond, VA 804.377.0335 (v/tty)
Olympia, WA 360.754.7583
Fairmont, WV 304.366.9500
Madison, WI 608.257.1516
Laramie, WY 307.755.5481