Laura had not yet discovered which sensation was worse, the physical pain from the assault she experienced or the pain of the soul. Laura felt shattered; every time she awoke, the memories made her wish for death. She even thought she would have preferred the two men who attacked her to have killed her. She felt a mix of conflicting emotions; at times, rage would dominate her. After all, she wasn't doing anything wrong, she was just walking home, and at other times, fear would make her delirious and almost lose consciousness. Shame was also a constant companion. She felt stupid for being caught late at night and alone, particularly as she was aware of the statistics, knowing the number of women who are victims of s****l abuse annually. But Laura never imagined she could be part of those nu
