This post is for Katelyn and all the other people who've read this story and have gone through something similar:

You are strong. You are beautiful. You are amazing. Don't forget that.

I'm so sorry if this was extremely hard for anyone to read, but i'm glad, Katelyn, that this story was a little like therapy for you, and i'm so glad that you have such a wonderful friend to help you out and that you have someone to confide in! That being said, i believe that you should probably find a real therapist, i don't know how old you are, but being through something so traumatic, you need to find a licensed professional. If that means telling your parents, as hard as it may be, i suggest it. I'm sorry if any of this offends you or it seems like i'm butting in too much, but i honestly feel that getting help is the first step to recovery, and the faster you seek out that first step, the faster you are to a full recovery.

If your parents might pose as a problem, being that if they are abusive in any way or you just find it too hard to tell them (even though i encourage you to tell your parents) or if you're just not very close with your parents, find a different adult to confide in, a teacher, a different relative, a friend, maybe a religious advisor, someone else you're close to. If your incident happened within the year or kind of soon, please report it to the police, even if they can't track it, you can at least be able to have that awareness out there and maybe the guy or girl who raped you will do it again and get caught or just get caught. It can't hurt, even if the police can't really do anything, it's good to let them know. I know it's hard, but you didn't deserve what happened and whoever touched you or did anything to you or your body without your permission should be caught because there's something fucked up in their brain and those kinds of people don't deserve to be among good people. I know it's hard, you're not the only one out there. There's, unfortunately, quite a bit of people out there who can relate to you. Don't feel alone, you're not alone.

So please, tell someone, confide in someone, get the help you need to recover so you can get back to a happy life. Don't let those mother fuckers take more from you than what they already have. Don't let them win. You shouldn't have to live in constant fear or anxiety or sadness. If you don't feel like talking to a person right in front of you, there are hotlines to call, where i'm sure you can remain nameless. Those hotlines are there to help you. You should never have to go through something alone. Here's a few numbers to call... and by a few i'm putting as many as i can find:

Rape Crisis Center Hotline
210-349-7273

National Teen Dating Abuse Help
1-866-331-9474

National Youth Crisis Hotline
1-800-448-4663

National Victim Center
1-800-FYI-CALL (1-800-394-2255)

People Against Rape
1-800-877-7252

Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233)

Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-548-2722

Domestic Violence Hotline in the US
800-799-7233

Domestic Violence Hotline/Child Abuse
800-4-A-CHILD (800 422 4453)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK

National STD Hotline
1-800-227-8922

I hope at least one of these helps any of you out. Please, i encourage you to talk to someone! There are many more hotlines, and if none of these work for you, i'm sure there's a million on google. I found these on there, so if none of these is what you're looking for, google something that works more for you! Good luck to anyone who needs it! Katelyn, you're very brave to try and read through something that brings back painful memories for you. You said it was something like therapy for you, and you have no idea how brave and amazing that truly is to at least try something that you'd classify as therapy. (if that makes sense.. haha) but good job girl! I'm so sorry for what happened to you, that's not something that anyone should have to go through. I hope that you and anyone else who needs it finds resolve and happiness as soon as possible!

Love to you all,

Nat