[needle]

FWIW, here's the context of the quote:

My sister picked me up, face wet from tears and contorted in anguish. Instinctively and immediately, I wanted to take away her pain. I smiled at her, I told her to look at me, I’m right here, I’m okay, everything’s okay, I’m right here. My hair is washed and clean, they gave me the strangest shampoo, calm down, and look at me. Look at these funny new sweatpants and sweatshirt, I look like a P.E. teacher, let’s go home, let’s eat something. She did not know that beneath my sweatsuit, I had scratches and bandages on my skin, my vagina was sore and had become a strange, dark color from all the prodding, my underwear was missing, and I felt too empty to continue to speak. That I was also afraid, that I was also devastated. That day we drove home and for hours in silence my younger sister held me. 

and

The night the news came out I sat my parents down and told them that I had been assaulted, to not look at the news because it’s upsetting, just know that I’m okay, I’m right here, and I’m okay. But halfway through telling them, my mom had to hold me because I could no longer stand up.

Anyway, the quote choice is still pretty baffling.

+++

Reading the letter again is a reminder that it's a powerfully-written document. She evokes the aftermath of rape in a plainspoken, heartrending way. With tremendous force and eloquence, she also rebuts any arguments (made in court or elsewhere) minimizing the actions and agency of a rapist.

I hope it is read again and again.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/he....gha3qY0a4

[needle]

FWIW, here's the context of the quote:

My sister picked me up, face wet from tears and contorted in anguish. Instinctively and immediately, I wanted to take away her pain. I smiled at her, I told her to look at me, I’m right here, I’m okay, everything’s okay, I’m right here. My hair is washed and clean, they gave me the strangest shampoo, calm down, and look at me. Look at these funny new sweatpants and sweatshirt, I look like a P.E. teacher, let’s go home, let’s eat something. She did not know that beneath my sweatsuit, I had scratches and bandages on my skin, my vagina was sore and had become a strange, dark color from all the prodding, my underwear was missing, and I felt too empty to continue to speak. That I was also afraid, that I was also devastated. That day we drove home and for hours in silence my younger sister held me. 

and

The night the news came out I sat my parents down and told them that I had been assaulted, to not look at the news because it’s upsetting, just know that I’m okay, I’m right here, and I’m okay. But halfway through telling them, my mom had to hold me because I could no longer stand up.

Anyway, the quote choice is still pretty baffling.

+++

Reading the letter again is a reminder that it's a powerfully-written document. She evokes the aftermath of rape in a plainspoken, heartrending way. With tremendous force and eloquence, she also rebuts any arguments (made in court or elsewhere) minimizing the actions and agency of a rapist.

I hope it is read again and again.

https://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/he....gha3qY0a4