The other kids clear the classroom. She turns to follow and then stops. The demons inside push her towards the door. She fights. She quivers. And then she pushes herself towards the teacher and the guest speaker. Her brain feels like it's going to explode as she begins to sob. The moment she opens her mouth, she knows her life will never be the same. But will it ever be better?
"I was raped..."
I wrote the other day about Linda Hurtado's video interview of Elaine Carole. At one point in the interview, Elaine is talking to a high school class about sexual violence and rape. She encourages the kids to ask for help if they are a victim. Following the talk, a young lady approaches Elaine and the teacher (the paragraph above is a characterization based solely upon my imagination). Her tears of pain and the sobbing hurt however, were real, very real. And I can't get her pain and emotion out of my mind. It hurts me.
Since ABC Action News aired their first segment on domestic violence in April of 2009, I've spent time researching both domestic violence and rape online. The amount of news and information is staggering! With so much of it out there, you wonder why it doesn't come up in everyday conversation more. You know though. It's a highly sensitive subject. You're not about to tell your fellow worker about a rape in the family the way you would tell them about the play your kid is in. Domestic violence and rape are engulfed in taboo.
I believe when a normal, caring adult hears and feels the pain and emotion in the sobbing of a victim of sexual violence, it will begin to break down the walls of ignorance and indifference. As normal, caring adults however, we need to make it easy for kids to approach us. We need to develop a sense of awareness.
Here is a link to Pandora's Project and a list of essays and articles on sexual violence and rape. Spend some time and increase your awareness. Don't let young adults and children suffer from sexual abuse.
Here is the National Domestic Violence Hotline phone number to call for help: 1-800-799-7233
If you're in Florida call the this number (or you can call the number above as well): 1-800-500-1119
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