Below is the 13th submission to the Community Forum for Survivors submitted anonymously on 10/10/2018. We appreciate the trust this survivor, and all survivors, place in us by sharing their stories. Note: MCRCC does not allow comments on blog posts.
Survivor’s gender identity: Female
The survivor’s age at the time sexual violence was perpetrated against them: 20
The survivor's age now: 33
The survivor’s description of sexual violence perpetrated against them:
"I was walking home around 9pm from dinner with friends, along a main street. I was crossing a side street when two men approached from behind me and grabbed my arms, and began trying to haul me away down the quiet side street. I could slip away from one of them, but then the other one was there, reaching for my other wrist or upper arm. I carried a small pocketknife in my purse in those days for safety, but there was no way I could get to it, and even if I could, these two men could easily overpower me. I screamed for help. A stranger came up, a man who casually told them to leave me alone—I remember that, how I was screaming for my life, and he could come along and just say, "leave her alone" and get a reaction—and they released me. I wanted to thank the stranger, or call the police, or scold them, but I just ran away and ran the rest of the way home, about a half a mile. My arms were bruised the next few days. For many months, I was unable to walk alone at night and would have panic attacks. Still, more than 10 years later, I tend to look around more cautiously when I'm walking at night. And I still think, what would have happened to me if that stranger had never come along? I remember thinking afterward, maybe they just wanted to rob me, but they could've so easily snatched my purse or my wallet, and they didn't."
If you or someone you care about has been sexually assaulted and is looking for resources or support, MCRCC provides a confidential helpline available 24/7 at (831) 375-4357. We support survivors today and always.
