Zi’s Story: my childhood
I tell people I trust that I was molested which in my mind, seems far from the truth. Maybe if I was only molested, I wouldn’t have as many problems as I do now. I wasn’t just molested – I
Tracey’s Story: I WAS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL
In 2015, I was a enrolled in (of all things) an online graduate program when I was sexually harassed by one of my male professors. As an online student, my photo was always visible to anyone and everyone with whom
Anonymous Story: Me Too
I remember feeling powerless & confused. I remember time feeling as if it was creeping by, even though it was a 10 minute ride. I remember freezing up, as I was confused about what he was doing. I remember wanting
SAVANNAH’S STORY: LAST TIME I WAS IN THE CAR WITH A MAN
It was my uncle. I was 16 years old, a baby, so naïve I just got my license . I was giddy to drive my uncle to the auto shop to pick up his car, his windows were being tinted.
Kiara’s Story: Used and Confused
I was 17 years old, it was August 2016. It was the summer going into my senior year. It had been crazy summer but a great one none the less. I was staying with my best-friend (let’s call her G)
Anonymous Story: Probably Triggering, DEFINITELY Cathartic
Hi Everyone, Anyone or No one… I just have this inane feeling of wanting to express what I have lived in words for anyone to read or take advice or criticise. I don’t even know what I want other than
Larissa’s Story: Me Too
I was four years old when I met ‘Mr. Helmethead’. I enjoyed playing with him, it was fun; he was a mini construction worker. He was my stepfather’s penis. He would make me jack his penis for him. My mother
Madelyn’s Story: This Wasn’t What I Asked For
I have carried the weight of my childhood traumas for twenty years too long. I have grown numb to the trauma from my adulthood and allowed it to make it’s home every nook and cranny that it could. There are
Anonymous Story: Our Little Secret
It started when I was four. It was my great-grandfather. We went to their house almost every holiday and birthday, and every time he preyed on me sexually. He asked me to sit on his lap. Said he was, “An
Cassie’s Story: I Am All of These Things Always
LINGERING What breaks me is the fact that I know. I know everything that happened. Every last detail. I replay every detail every day in every moment. Everything reminds me of what happened, everything reminds me of him. What kills
Sophie’s Story: WHO I AM
This is a story of not only sexual abuse, but emotional and verbal abuse as well. He was my first boyfriend. I was a freshman, and a junior wanted to date me. I felt so lucky that an older guy
Anonymous Story: Black Hole
This is hard. Part of me is desperately trying to explain what happened to anyone who would listen, but another part of me, one that has been in control for much longer, refuses to relinquish control and trust any one
Anonymous Story: Me Too
I was 14 A complete stranger molested me he touched me with his filthy hands my innocent body which had never been touched by a man before. After that I developed bulimia and I was always anxious I was afraid
Asia’s Story: I Was Only 8….
My name is Asia and this is my story. I was 8 years old when it started. I had stayed with my grandmother and grandfather at the time and Her baby brother which is my great uncle Andy is what
Hannah’s Story: My Grandmother Refuses to Cut Ties With the Family Member Who Sexually Assaulted Me
When I was 13 years old, my 15 year old cousin molested me over the course of several days during summer break. Out of fear of not being taken seriously or splitting up my family, I decided not tell anyone
Blue’s Story
The first time it happened I was 5 and she was 10,before I started school. I was eager to learn new things,so when my sister said she would teach me something new I jumped at the idea and closed our
Anonymous Story: I Can’t Swim Again
When I was about 9 years old, I was always at my grandmas house. She lived with my aunt, uncle, and my 3 cousins. The latest of the 3 was named Austin. He was my favorite because we always hung
Anonymous Story: I Still Think About It Everyday
1.) I was drunk, he was not. I was a virgin and he was not. I said no and he said yes. 2.)The next morning I took two showers and cried. 3.) I made rules to stop thinking about it:
Bug’s Story: I Wanted to Ask Him How He Was
I shoved him off of my bed and was met with condescension. “Are you trying to show me that you’re strong?” I kept moving his hand away, and was met with a reply, The beginning of cognitive dissonance, “I won’t
Anonymous Story: He Doesn’t Love Me
My first sexual encounter was at the age of three. He penetrated me with his finger and pressed his cheek against mine. It happened multiple times but I didn’t say anything until it started to hurt. When I finally did
Bethany’s Story: He Loves Me, So It Can’t Be Rape
I really do apologize, because my story is going to come off as an interpersonal violence story. I don’t feel like my story belongs on either platform, but I am most comfortable sharing here. When I was 17 I started
Grace’s Story: Stranger at a Hotel
i’ve been recently reading the rape stories of many strong women and men and have been inspired to share mine. no one knows about this besides me, not my closest friends or even my parents. this happened in january last
Anonymous Story: Her Arms
Poem: Just pick her up and hold her In both of your arms Nobody holds her Left with a stuffed bear in her arms Bruises trace her pale skin and frail bones The sun comes and it goes Nobody holds
Ingrid’s Story: I Still Haven’t Processed It
I am 15 at the time of writing this. I knew a guy named D since kindergarten and we used to be best friends when we were younger. He always made fun of me and hit me so we eventually
My Story: He Thought Because We Were Dating That What He Did Was Okay
He was my first boyfriend, my first kiss, someone I believed I could trust. I was only 15. He was 16, it was summertime and we were at his house, kissing I was wearing loose shorts since I was told
Anonymous Story: DMH, my father, molested his daughters starting at ages 5
I remember thinking my dad was the most amazing person I knew one day and the next day I had to learn ways to avoid him and protect myself from him. He started by coming into my room with a
Anonymous Story: My Brother, the Monster
I remember the day like it was yesterday…My parents were out to dinner and it was just nine year old me and my seventeen year old brother at home. I was in the bathtub when my brother walked in. He
SaoirSe Story: I Was Only Ten
I was ten years old when this happened to me. My cousins have a 4th of July party every year. Me and my mom had gone the year before so we decided to go again this year. We set off
Anonymous Story: Southern Baptist Church
I guess I am writing this because of all of the torment I’ve been through and no one has helped me or even cared. My parents were suppose to protect me but they didn’t. The church was suppose to help
Anonymous Story: I Was 12 and a Very Normal Little Girl
I keep coming here telling myself I will say something but each time I start writing I end up stopping midway and just forgetting about it. I will NOT do that this time! Summer of 2010, I was a
Anonymous Story: HE DOESN’T EVEN THINK HE DID ANYTHING WRONG
No one talks about the immediate damage, the hurry to change your sheets and remove anything that even slightly reminds you of him from the premises. I was this day old when I was assaulted in my own bed, it
Anonymous Story: I Was Only 15
He had asked me out twice before and I had refused. I knew him, we had had sex before so I thought that this time was fine, that it had just been a bit too forceful; a misunderstanding. Time passed
Cassidy’s Story: More Than Once
It started when I was 4 years old, too young to know much about the world. He was 12. He was someone I looked up to, someone I loved and thought could never do me wrong. He was my older
Anonymous Story: An Open Letter to My Mother
An open letter to my mother. My earliest memories of you were when you were changing my diaper. When I asked about how old we were when we moved from the house you said 10 months. The memory plays without
Marcella’s Story
I can’t write this well as since a baby my mind has been in a protective fog and heart fractured into a million shards, like so many others who have survived violence. As a baby I wouldn’t let people hold
Anonymous Story: Assaulted By Two Family Members
I remember living in Kansas City,MO. I was just an 8 year old girl with no issues happy as can be. Nice house nice family.( so I thought.) My brother sister and I were all adopted at a very young
Sofia’s story: Ghost in my head
It started when I was 13. I was like most 13 year olds; naive and insecure. I met him through a chat app. We really hit it off. Then one day he said he was in love with me. I
Kasey’s Story: The Closest Ones Hurt the Most
When I was a child, 4 years old to be exact, having a family was a huge thing. An absent mother made it difficult for me to have that family, so having my Godmother and Godfather as that family was
Delilah’s Story: My Family Doesn’t Speak to Me Because of the TRUTH
Besides my mother,husband, and children and my FATHER.. NO ONE in my fathers side of the family knew my grandfather sexually assaulted me as a child. When it first started I was about 5-7 yrs old. It started with touching
Anonymous Story: A Quick Rundown of My Life: A Messy Essay
Warning:- long. I guess I’m just inanely babbling into the void here, which does help, just getting all your thoughts out. This is a very watered down essay of my stupidly complex life. I feel as though I should make
The When You're Ready Project is a community for survivors of sexual violence to share their stories and have their voices heard, finding strength in one another. When you're ready to share your story, we will be here.
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Adulthood
After Sharing my Story
Campus
Child Abuse
College
Culture
Date Rape Drugs
Fears
Flashbacks
Fraternity
Guilt
He felt entitled
He was violent
High School
I'm afraid to be alone
I'm in therapy
I've never told anyone
I became pregnant
I blamed myself
I didn't think anyone would believe me
I did not report it
I don't remember what happened
I got an STD
I knew my rapist
I remember what happened
I reported it
I still can't sleep
I was a virgin
I was drinking
I wasn't sure if it was rape
Military
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Over a decade ago
Poetry
Raped by a Family Member
Raped by a stranger
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Victim Blaming
We were in a relationship
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