Back in March 2018 I was sexually assaulted. I was on a second date with a guy that I met at a bar. I was at said bar alone when I met him, because I had recently lost all of my friends due to drama. This was my first time out trying to make new friends. We went on a first date and all seemed normal, we shared a kiss after. The next week, we went on a second date. This consisted of going out for a beer after class. Following the beer, he suggested going back to my apartment to watch a March Madness game. Once we got to my apartment, he closed my bedroom door and immediately started getting sexual aggressive with me. He pushed me on to my bed and the next thing I knew my clothes were off. I went with it for about one minute and then told him that “I don’t move this fast.” He said it was fine, yet he continued to aggressively finger me and force me to give him oral sex. He grabbed me by the throat for 30 seconds at a time while I feared for my life, but was too scared to say anything. After he ejaculated on my abdomen, I realized that the while bedding that surrounded me was blood stained. I quickly ran to the bathroom to shower and rise off what he had done to me. I came out of the bathroom and he was still there. He kissed me goodbye and that was that. I bleached my sheets and that was that. About an hour later I broke out into tears. I realized that I told him I wasn’t interested, yet he was persistent. The first person I told was my roommate, I pulled her into my room and showed her the bite marks on my neck. I had no words. She knew what I was trying to say though. The following morning I went to class pretending everything was normal. When I came home I called my sister and told her. She said she was on her way to my university with my mom. When they arrived we went to a park and called the police and went to the hospital where I gave my statement and got a rape kit. Now, 14 weeks later, they found his DNA on me and he has a warrant out for his arrest. I moved 1,300 miles away and still feel helpless. H could be doing this to someone else.
— Camron, age 21
“Helpless” is not your word – “HERO” is your word. Your life was in danger, you lived thru it, you are now legally kicking the CRIMINAL’S butt so he CAN’T keep doing this to others! The only thing missing on you is a RED CAPE! You are great ! and a role model – not a victim! Just 2 numbers I have found for people to talk to counselors is 1800 656 HOPE 4673 and 1 800 799 7233
Dear Camron – thank you so much for sharing your story here. I am really glad to read of the support you got from your mom and sister and that you were able to get medical attention. It’s funny – you think that them finding out who hurt you will just be elating… but it’s not always that clear. So I just want to acknowledge that whatever emotions you’re feeling about that are ok. As far as him hurting someone else, you may have helped prevent exactly that by reporting it, which was an incredibly brave thing to do. If he has hurt someone else, it was NOT YOUR FAULT; nor is what he did to you.
I would encourage you to find a therapist to talk to. You are quite the opposite of helpless but it can be really hard to feel that way. A therapist can help you get there and help you navigate anything that might come up in the future. It’s not easy but I really believe in you and you deserve to heal. Sending you so much love and light, Alexis