I Am Me.

I had always been under the impression that rape occurred when a random stranger attacked a person on the street, or in a dark alley. However, I knew and trusted him. I said no. I fought. In August of last year, I became a victim of rape. My rapist doesn't know he is a rapist. He goes about his days as if nothing is wrong, because society has made it so. I hear far too many people make humorous references to rape on a day to day basis. Far too may people lie about being raped. Lying about it makes me, as a victim, hesitant to tell anyone because of how many people in society may doubt me. I've had people ask what I was wearing that night, if I was drunk, or if I was being a tease. I've done nothing but lose respect for the people who blame and accuse me as well as any other victim out there. But I won't let it take my life over. I know I will have to work at it for the rest of my life, but I will not let it consume my life anymore. Does it still cause problems in my every day life? Absolutely. But I am no longer a victim. I will be returning to college and moving forward with my life this Fall semester. I also want to apologize to the many people I completely shut out of my life for the past year with no explanation. My name is Andrea Heaston, and I am a survivor.