An Open Letter to Sexual Assault Survivors

Dear survivors,I want to start by introducing myself. My name is Kennedy. I'm 17 and a survivor. Now I don't know what you've gone through but you are a survivor, whether it happened, hours, days, weeks, months, or years ago. You have survived up to the point where you're at right now. This journey is going to be long. You are going to feel alone, and so much more I can't even explain. I want to tell you the reality of this—you can't do it alone; you can try, but you need someone. You need someone you can call when those flashbacks get to be too much. You need someone who will listen to you and be there for you. You need someone who loves you, and if you feel like you have no one, I want to tell you that I am here. I love you. I know how you feel. I care for you. I feel for you. I want to tell you that you are going to be okay, maybe not right now, or tomorrow, or a week, or a month, or even a year. But one day you will be okay. Some days are going to be harder than others. This journey is going to take a lot out of you, but I am here in your corner fighting for you. Please don't let anyone try to silence your voice. You deserve to be heard. I want to let you know that you are loved, cared for, and are needed here on this earth. Our society can be pretty cruel when it comes to us survivors speaking up. You are a fighter, an inspiration, a survivor. So please, hang on, try to hang on, because I believe in you.Sincerely, Kennedy