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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Carleton chapter.

I took a deep breath, I got comfortable in bed

I fought to keep my eyes open as I kept listening to him speak from my bedside

but I couldn’t. 

My breathing steadied and my heartrate slowed down; I closed my eyes and in no time,  I fell at sleep.

I drifted off listening to nothing but his raspy voice fading into the background

I wandered off further into slumber, allowing myself to get engulfed into tranquility. 

Peacefully I laid there but for a brief moment.

A split second, then I felt the pain.

 

A pain so excruciating and cruel;

It caused my bones to quiver, and my body to ache

What is causing this torture? I wondered.

 How can I escape the torment? 

My eyes shot open looking answers, and, in that moment, I saw his face.

I felt his weight pressed up on me, holding me down. 

His rawness inside of me stripping me off what I guarded so dearly. 

I was stunned.

My brain was screaming in agony, but my body laid there still like a log.

I looked up and I saw his face again, his pleasure-stricken face, enjoying every one second of his actions.

I closed my eyes as they filled up with tears.

 

“STOP!” I said with all the energy in me

But he did not listen.

“please stop” I pleaded.

But he kept going, paying no attention to my words or to my tears.

“please” I repeatedly whispered as tears rolled down my cheeks

But I had no say; my words were invalid as he gave into his hunger.

Where was the warrior spirit in me now that I needed it?

Where was the outspoken and confident girl I had taught myself to be?

I was a quest and he the conqueror;

I felt defeated… 

NO! I was defeated.

 

He stopped moving and he got off me

I sighed in relief

He got dressed and turned to look at me

His eyes fixated on my face as he uttered the words

“I thought we both wanted this.”

I sat there whimpering as I wiped away my tears

“Fuck, I’m sorry”, he said, “I don’t know what came over me” 

As if that’s supposed to make it all okay.

What a pathetic excuse he gave, I thought angrily.

 

I walked into the washroom, locking the door.

Hugging my fragile self as I sunk down to the floor

He was my friend and he betrayed me in the worst way. 

It made no sense that someone I trusted so much was now someone that will forever haunt me.

With these confusing thoughts I cried myself to sleep

where my dreams were filled with horrors of the experience.

Right there and then I had become a victim

But now I am a Survivor – or at least I’m learning to be.

 

In honour of survivors for #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth 

Amarachi Mbala

Carleton '23

Amarachi is a Neuroscience and Mental Health Major who likes to write occassionally.