I was 16 years old when I was kidnapped of the street and violently raped.
I was walking the neighborhood when I was approached by some men and asked if I needed a ride, I said “no” they drove away, but I didn’t realize that they had just went around the block, they came up behind me and threw me in the car. I started to scream and one of them hit me and told me if I screamed again that he would kill me, I remember trying to be as calm as possible. Eventually we arrived at this house that had an eerie playground in front of it and they pushed me into the house, then into a room with only a mattress on the floor that was surrounded by condoms.
One man raped me consecutively, he would choke me until I was about to pass out then stop, he did that repeatedly. After he was done they dropped me of in the middle of nowhere, I don’t think they realized that I knew the area and ran to an old neighbor’s house telling her everything, I was taken to the hospital where they did a rape kit and found someone else’s DNA present and shortly later the police arrived. They listened to what I had to say then just walked out. They didn’t say a word or even a nod and they just walked out. The officers didn’t ask for a description or any details they just took note of what happened. I didn’t talk to any detectives despite being told I would, instead I was put in a long term therapeutic center for three months.
It took a lot to get to where I am now, but I never got justice. And I know others who never got the Justice they deserved. That’s why it is important to tell the truth, there are so many young women who revenge accused their ex boyfriends of rape because they broke up with them, or because they were cheated on and that has to stop in order for real victims and survivors to get the attention from the judicial system they deserve. It’s time to speak up if you are a real victim, it may be hard but in the long one you’re not just helping yourself your causing a ripple that will help so many others.
I have severe PTSD because of what happened to me. Every November it’s like my subconscious remembers everything like it just happened yesterday and I can’t function. I get physically sick, I don’t sleep because I’m afraid of the man that I see when I do, I can barely eat because I’m so anxious. I’m sharing my story because I want to make a difference, I want women to stand up against intimidation and laugh in its face. Women can be empowered because we endure so much we can overcome anything. And I’m living proof of that.
K. Miller