Sexual Assault Care: In Your Own Words - Reflections - Help for victims, information on sexual assault, date rape sexual assault myths facts sexual assault law victim

In Your Own Words Reflections This section is for you. It's a way to express your feelings and share your experiences. People have requested a place on the site where they can find hope and positive support to assist them or their friends through the healing process. We welcome stories, suggestions or reflections on what helped you through the difficult times so others may be encouraged and feel hopeful. Your submission will be reviewed as part of the selection process. To protect yourself, please do not give out any information that would help anyone identify or locate you. Use a nickname or initials when signing your reflection. All reference to your location and identity will be deleted. You can submit your reflection at

Nightmare Nothing could compare to the feeling. Soaring through the luminous sky with wild abandon - every beat of her wings brought a sense of adventure. And with every breath, a sense of unrestrained exhilaration, warning her that her next dive could drown her, and consume her in a whirlpool of nightmares. A torrent of freedom and excitement, revealing a new world’s wonder, filled her with inspirations and promises. She beat her wings with defiant resolve, eager to soar for the stars, away from the colorful specks and lush green below. Ever ignorant to the lurking shadow’s plight, she glided on the currents of the wind, her worries melted away, like autumn leaves drifting to their inevitable end. As the envious moon glared at the rising sun, she floated along the draft, soaking in dawn’s glory until a sudden gust swept her up in it’s fury. Tossing and throwing her, she plummeted towards the shadow, and somewhere amid the confusion, the whirlpool found her, and merciless in its nature, it swallowed her whole. Consumed by that which he so expertly tainted, she faded away into a sudden night, where wide eyes greeted her nightmare revealed. – January Woman –

The Truth Ten years ago something happened to me something really bad that I can’t get over. I was sexually assaulted by someone I knew. He was my cousin. I didn’t think he would ever do something like that to me or to anyone. But he did and now I got to live with it for the rest of my life. Why, why did he do this to me? Why is the question I want to know. I still don’t know who told an adult or who told the cops. But when I do find out, I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart because if no one knew about it then it would be just all built up inside and maybe I wouldn’t be here writing this if someone never told, so for that I am thankful. – Dinah –