Trigger warning: Before reading this post, please be aware that it contains references to childhood sexual assault.
I was 12 when It happened. When I met him. He was cooler, older, funny and accepted me for who I was. He called me beautiful and pretty constantly and eventually asked for inappropriate pictures. I trusted him, so I gave him what he wanted.
He eventually wanted to meet up to do some ‘stuff’. So I lied to my parents and went out to see him in the woods near my school.
I was terrified. He touched me in places I didn’t want to be touched and I didn’t know how to properly say “no”.
It took me weeks to tell somebody. But I did, and boy am I glad I did sooner than later.
I’m still currently in the criminal law justice process (It takes 2-3 years to go to court)
But I am definitely on my way to getting the justice I know I deserve.