Survivor Stories (pt. 11)
TW: Sexual violence
Every survivor has their own story, yet not every survivor feels heard. For a multitude of reasons, survivors fear speaking out. And even if they do speak out, that doesn’t mean someone will listen… or believe them.
From the start of my work with PAVE, I emphasized my desire to highlight survivor stories. I desired to create a space for survivors to share their voices, one that perseveres even after my time at PAVE.
The pieces below were submitted by survivors, some requesting to remain anonymous. Thank you to these survivors for your strength and vulnerability. We hear you. We believe you. We support you.
Untitled by anonymous
It was my boyfriend at the time. We had already had sex once, and he wanted to have sex again. I told him no many times, that I wasn’t in the mood, but he just kept pushing. I got silent, which he took as a yes. We had sex. I didn’t think that was rape at the time, until I looked back on it one day. I said no. That should’ve been the end. Now, i’m with someone who has a very clear knowledge of consent, and I have never felt pressured.
Untitled by anonymous
My first year of college I was drugged at a party and forcefully taken back to their room. I woke up [with] no clothes and when I went to leave I could not find my clothes anywhere. My healing journey didn’t happen weeks after when I transferred schools, it happened 4 years later when I finally had the courage to tell people what happened.
