SafetyForWomen

Written by "BreakAway"

I was just sixteen. I was swimming at the local community pool because I was preparing for swimteam try outs. At the end of my laps, I got into the jacuzzi just to relax. Two older males entered and I had a bad vibe about it. One of my friends was with me earlier but at the time of this was at home checking in with her mother. I got out and got my stuff to leave when I was grabbed from behind. I started screaming and he had his hand over my mouth and with his other arm had me held tight. I was then thrown against the wall and punched and slapped till I stopped fighting. Then they picked me up and took me into the restroom. I did try to fight once I got into the bathroom. I was thrown against the mirror and I just laid there crying and sobbing. The mirror shattered and those men took turns raping me on that floor. I stopped fighting. That was how I lost my virginity. I was found by a security guard and taken to the hospital. By the time progress was made on the case, I couldn't pick them out of a line up. I didn't see much of their faces.

Few years later, at age 18, I got into a relationship. After a year it became abusive and controlling. Once we got serious and he was talking about marriage he changed. He got jealous if I went out with my friends. He slapped me many times, grabbed me, pushed me, and even one time throwing me into a shower cause I was wearing too much make-up. It only got worse the longer I stayed. I began coming into work with cuts and bruises. My co-workers and friends began to notice. I eventually got out, by literally taking off and moving out of state. I still try to keep a low profile. I wish I knew more about self-defense so I could've had a better chance at protecting myself. I wish I had a site like this to come to back then. I wish I knew that there were sources out there for me to come to and places for support. I think this site will help many women and even myself. That's my story.