this story is about a rape victim trying to get justice for her and her friend. Im writing this to raise awareness

“Alex hey” I turned around to see who was calling my name. “Jake hey how have you been?” I asked as I walked towards my childhood best friend Jake. “Oh I've been good. I haven’t seen you since graduation, how are you?” “I’m good. How’s Stacy?” I asked looking down. “Oh well uh...she left me for Chad… but i’m surviving. Um hows Chris?” “Oh Chris and I ended things I caught him with my sister.” I said clenching my fist. “Oh damn I’m sorry. Hey would you maybe wanna get coffee with me and we could catch up?” He asked, holding out his hand. “I would love to.” I said grabbing his hand. We spent hours talking and catching up till it was late outside. He ended up walking me home. “Welp this is my stop. It was really great seeing you again.” I said smiling. “Ya I had a great time.” He said then started to move closer and his lips touched mine. It felt like fireworks on the fourth of July. I didn’t want it to end. He eventually pulled away. “Here’s my number, call me sometime.” He said walking away. I went up to my room and plopped down on my bed then my roommate walked in. “What’s got you all happy and giddy?” “Oh nothing.” I say hiding the number in my pocket. “Mhmm spill.” “Ugh fine remember the guy from highschool that I told you about?” “Ya Jake right?” “Ya well...We ran into each other again today and spent hours drinking coffee and talking then he walked me home and before he left he kissed me. I didn’t want it to end.” “Ooh girl you best have got his phone number” “Oh ya I did i’m gonna put it in my phone now.” I put his phone number in and texted him. “Hey it’s Alex”I waited then after five minutes. DING “Hey hot stuff lol how are you” I replied fast. ¨I´m good. Really loved that kiss¨ ¨Oh ya well maybe I can come over tomorrow and we can do it again.¨ ¨Ok hehe¨ I replied, getting all excited. The next day came slowly. I kept waiting at the window impatiently till he finally got here. I ran down stairs and ran into his arms ¨Well hi there. You miss me?” He asked, smiling. ¨Mhmm” I said then kissed him. It was that same firework feeling like the night before. He pulled away. “You wanna show me around your place?” “Ya of course let's go” I showed him around my apartment. “And this is my room. My roommate ain’t home yet.” “Good¨ He said, pushing me onto the bed. “W-what are you doing” I said in fear, my voice shaking “Shhhhh just relax” He said pulling my pants off. I pushed him off and pulled my pants up. “I think that’s a little too fast” He pushed me back on the bed and held my hands above my head and pulled my pants down with the other and then my underwear. I tried to scream but I couldn’t. He forced himself on me and I couldn’t move. I was frozen and I didn’t know what to do. Shortly after my roommate walked in. “Hey get your ass off her!” She ran over and pulled him off and punched him. I just layed there frozen, unable to talk. She ended up calling the police and Jake ran. Once she was done she walked over to me. “Hey was that…?” I nodded. “I’m so sorry.” She hugged me and I pushed her off. “I really don’t wanna be touched right now.” I said curling up in a ball. Suddenly we hear sirens. “You stay here and cover up. I'll go talk to them ok.” I nodded again. I wasn’t in a very talkative mood. A half hour later my roommate came in with an officer. “Now Alex, he's just here to talk to you about what happened.” The officer sat next to me and I told him everything that happened. “Ok we will find this guy and sadly it’s not the first time we’ve had a case with him. Back in 2017 we had a case with him and a girl named Stacy.” I looked up “Stacey Nicklet?” “Yep that’s the one poor girl. Her case sadly didn’t go through trial and she couldn’t take the pain of the memories and commited suicide.” I started to tear up. “Well I have to go. You girls take care and I promise we will have him behind bars.” I sat there trying not to cry. “Hey what's wrong?” “Stacy was one of my best friends in high school...Jake told me she left him...I believed him.” I started bawling. “Hey it’s ok it’s not your fault ok.” “I should have been there for her. She tried calling me and stuff, but I was still so mad from a fight we had in high school I ignored her.” “Well he’s going to get what he deserves ok. Your case will go to trial and you will win.” I smiled a bit. “I might wanna get my pants and stuff back on.” I said giving her a look so she would get out. “Oh right i’ll go.” I got dressed then went out to the living room and sat on the couch next to my roommate. “You ok and be honest” She asked me concerned. “Ya i'm ok…” “You sure” “Ya just a bit shaken…” “Ya I understand. We should go out sometime ''You know you’ve never really talked to me till yesterday. Like we’ve been roommates for like three months now and I still don’t know your name.” I said looking at her confused “Oh ya sorry not the social type. My name is Regina. What made me wanna talk to you is I've been like examining you and you seem chill and with recent events I figured that you need a friend so here I am.” “Ok then ya I guess I could use a night out, but for now I’m gonna try and sleep.” I got up and went to my room and tried to sleep, but every time I closed my eyes all I could see was Jake on top of me, all I could feel is the fear thinking what did I do to deserve this, I felt his pressure on top of me again forcing himself inside me, pinning me to the bed, unable to move. I jolted awake sobbing. Regina ran into my room. “Hey what’s wrong?” “I can still feel him on me, I can still feel his presence.” I said clinging to her bawling.” “Hey he’s gone now ok. He can’t hurt you know more I promise.” She held onto me and I felt safe and warm again. “Thank you. I really needed that.” “Anytime we should definitely go out tomorrow buy you some new clothes and stuff my treat.” “No i’ll pay for myself, but ya we should.” Regina went back to bed and I ended up watching TV all night. The next day Regina got up around nine in the morning. “Hey what’s that smell? It smells good.” “Oh ya i’m making breakfast. Does french toast sound good to you?” “I love french toast. It’s my favorite.” She said with a beautiful smile. Her smile was as beautiful as a sunset. I never noticed how beautiful she was till we started actually talking. The way her long blonde hair flowed down her back, her crystal blue eyes glimmered in the light, she was just so perfect. “Well it’s almost done so if you like you can sit with me at the table and eat.” “I would love that,” She said, pulling out her chair giggling. I finally finished the french toast and plated it. “Here you go.” She took a bite and her eyes lit up. “Oh my God this is amazing how you learn to cook so well.” She said scarfing the food down. Ï giggled. “I took a few cooking classes back in college. I’m not that great.” “Not that great you’re amazing what are you talking about.” I giggled more. “You’re adorable.” She blushed. “Why are you blushing?” “No one’s really called me adorable before… other than my mom… but she passed away when I was 12…” “Oh… i’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to upset you… ¨ “No you didn’t upset me… to be honest I like you calling me adorable.” I smiled. “In that case you’re adorable.” She blushed more. Shortly after we got done eating we walked to town. “Oh look over here” She said running to the window of a small dress shop. “Oh wow that is so pretty.” I said looking at the dress she was looking at. “Come on you have to try it on.” Before I could say anything she was dragging me inside by my wrist. “AHHHH! Careful I’m a person not a doll.” I said holding my hurting wrist. “Sorry. Now go try the dress on.” “I don’t know.” “Come on it’ll look so good on you.” “Fine, but I’m only trying it on.” “Yay!” I went into the dressing room to try the dress on and when I looked in the mirror my eyes grew. I felt so beautiful, more beautiful than I felt in a long long time. I walked out to show Regina. “Wow you look amazing. Give me a little twirl.” I smiled and spun around. The dress flowed so beautifully. “You should buy it.” She said with a huge smile. “I don’t have the money.” “Good thing I do.” She said smiling. “No you don’t have to buy it for me.” “Too late.” She giggled and pulled out the receipt. “Regina! I said I didn’t want you to spend your money on me.” “I know it’s just you look so happy in it so I had to.” “I love you Regina, but please no more.” “Ok. I’m sorry.” “It’s ok just listen.” I giggled and went to change back then we went for coffee, but when we got to the shop I froze. “What’s wrong?” “T-this is the coffee shop Jake and I went to.” “Ok let’s go somewhere else” “O-ok.” She grabbed me by my shoulder and we walked away. I smiled again something about being in her arms made me feel happy and safe. “You seem happy now, may I ask why” “Oh nothing” I said smiling. “Ok if you say so.” As we walked my phone rang. “Hello? Oh hey! Really! Be right there!” I hung up. “We have to go to the station, they got Jake.” “Wait really?” She asked confused ''Yes, now let's go!” I said dragging her by her arm. “Ow look who’s treating who like a doll?” “Oh hush and come on.”