Poppyflower
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- Apr 3, 2013
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I’m so sorry, @frisson. My mom related a similar story to me the other day. She’s in her mid-70s and hasn’t talked about it since it happened in high school.
The son of a prominent citizen of a neighboring town asked my mom out on a date. He seemed well-respected, star athlete, good grades. On the way to pick up her friends for a blind double date to the local Dairy Freeze and then a football game, he instead drove her out to a country road and tried to rape her.
She fought so hard that she kicked out two windows in the car. She doesn’t remember kicking out the windows — she remembers the horror and anger at the realization of what was happening. My mom was 5’4, all of 100 pounds.
He was so mad, he threatened to leave her there. She dared him to, just so she would “have” to explain to her dad how she got home. He had ripped her dress. She lost a shoe. She was bruised and disheveled.
He drove her home.
She managed to get to her bedroom and start changing into her pajamas before her mom and dad had the chance to see her clothes. She was terrified that people would know she was sexually assaulted. That she would have a “look” to her. She was terrified. She said she felt ashamed.
She just told her parents the date was lousy and never told anyone.
Until she told me, her daughter. I could tell it was painful for her to talk about it.
She was attacked over half a century ago.
Some things in our society haven’t changed at all, it seems.
Huge hugs to you, @frisson. Thank you for sharing. I hope it brings you some comfort. Personally, the experiences shared here have helped me feel less isolated.
I'm in tears for your mom. To have that happen and then to have to put it in the back of your head for so long. So cool that she opened up to you. I hope it was healing and a release for her, to know that someone believed her, listened to her and to have that be her daughter is so wonderful.
Thank you to all the brave women in this thread for sharing your stories. I believe you. I know I'm some random flower on the internet but I do. I stand with you. I'm there for you. I empathize at the deepest level with you.