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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Does he realise what he done?

73 replies

LocketsandSoothers · 27/08/2020 16:54

This maybe potentially triggering

This is going to be a long one, so bare with me. I don’t even know why this has bothered me so much after 15 years (for the first time I’m angry as opposed to ashamed & sad but truthfully not giving it as much thought as I think I should have.)

For context, which I think is relevant as it’s so small & backward, I live in a small country parish in Northern Ireland. (I have named changed for this and will change again after replying to any comments).

When I was in my early 20s and at Uni in Belfast I started texting a local lad, he’d been after me for ages trying to get my number etc. So we’d text each other fairly regularly over the period of about 2 months. I’d kissed him maybe twice when we ended up bumping into each other at after a night out but never made any plans to meet up. It was just a flirt, never suggestive or anything further than a quick kiss. He seemed like the perfect gentleman although my friends didn’t like him.

One week night when I was up at university I arrived home from the pub (a bit tipsy) when I got a call from him out of the blue saying he’d been in a nightclub in Belfast and his taxi home left without him & could he crash at mine. (Next morning I found out this was not true, he actually was staying at his friends house in Belfast). Being a local lad I said yes of course, it was freezing that night. He sat with my friend & I, chatting on my bed. After she went to bed it was just me & him we jumped into my bed to sleep. I obviously expected that’d we’d kiss and cuddle but after a few minute he got on top of me and starting putting his hand down my under wear. I tried to stop him but but he pinned me down and forced himself inside me. He knew I was resisting him but said things like “don’t be like that now”, like it was game and I was playing hard to get. Tears starting rolling down my cheeks and he was irritated that I was crying. I stopped physically resisting at the point as it was too late. He finished inside me, with no condom, and tried to hide that he had ejaculated. He seemed more embarrassed that he had finished early than anything else. Then rolled over and fell asleep. I was so shocked at what happened I just lay there. I didn’t call out for help to my flat mates I was just so stunned that it had actually happened.

While far from a virgin, I would never have slept with a local lad without being in a relationship. The local gossip is awful.

He got up the next morning and acted normally, as did I. From then on he completely blanked me, apart from the local football team buddies nudging him & clapping his back if I ran into them. At the time this is what upset me most - local people thinking I had a one night stand with him. I was so ashamed and embarrassed. If I ever bumped into him I hid, thankfully our paths don’t cross too much.

Part of me feels he didn’t even stop to think it was wrong, but then I think I was bloody crying. How could he not have known? ...maybe the fact I didn’t shout for help. Maybe the fact I allowed him into my bed. Ugh. Maybe I encouraged it.

So my AIBU is, was this rape and did he realise what he done?

OP posts:
NYMM · 27/08/2020 17:01

If you didn't consent then it was rape, but I'm unclear why you are even questioning it. Confused

funnylittlefloozie · 27/08/2020 17:05

Of course it was rape. He raped you, and i am so sorry this happened to you.

What do you want to happen? Do you want to talk to someone in real life?

Florencex · 27/08/2020 17:05

Yes it was rape and yes he knew that.

TimelyManor · 27/08/2020 17:06

Yes, it was rape. Whether he realised or not, only he can say. Have you ever had any help in dealing with it?

RaininSummer · 27/08/2020 17:06

No grey area here if there ever is. This was rape.

Atalune · 27/08/2020 17:10

Rape.

I’m very sorry.

whatnowitsoverseekingadvice · 27/08/2020 17:14

Flowers I am so sorry - of course he raped you. And he knows that he did, although he may have convinced himself by now that you were a willing participant. Please don't beat yourself up about whether there was something else you could have or should have done. He had sex with you without your consent, knowing that you didn't want to. Maybe give a Rape Crisis Centre a call to talk it through and get some counselling - you don't know what kind of long-term impacts you may be suffering?

Lifeisabeach09 · 27/08/2020 17:16

He raped you and he doesn't realise or care.
Definitely get some counselling.

EnjoyingTheSilence · 27/08/2020 17:18

He raped you. I’m very sorry you went through that. I think he would be worth you talking to someone in rl to get the support you need

LocketsandSoothers · 27/08/2020 17:23

This man has popped up in local conversation this last while, nothing related to this at all, but it’s made me think about him. I think that’s why I’m questioning it. I never told anyone apart from my friend. Then as the years passed I thought I had made more of in my mind than it was. Although remembering things as I write the thread has clarified in my mind what I knew that happened.

I don’t know if I could bring myself to talk to a counsellor about what happened. But thank you for all your support. My own validation has made me feel more at ease

OP posts:
FOJN · 27/08/2020 17:28

I'm so sorry you went through this and having been dealing with it alone. Is rape crisis available in your area, I believe you can talk to them on the phone and don't actually have to see anyone. You did nothing wrong and have no reason to feel ashamed although I'm certain those words alone will not help you feel any better.
Flowers

Piffle11 · 27/08/2020 17:34

He raped you, and he knows he did.

workhomesleeprepeat · 27/08/2020 17:39

It was definitely rape. He may try to tell himself that it wasn't, but it was. I'm sorry. Do look after yourself.

LemonyFace · 27/08/2020 17:43

I guess you're thinking he wasn't violent, so it wasn't rape. You didn't fight hard enough, so it wasn't rape. You let him into your bed, so it wasn't rape. NONE OF THIS IS TRUE!
Yes, he raped you. This realisation may impact you more than you know. Take care of yourself, and talk to someone if you can.

dwiz8 · 27/08/2020 17:46

This reply has been deleted

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Heffalooomia · 27/08/2020 17:48

Yes it was rape and he knew it:(
I'm so sorry LocketsFlowers

HerNameWasEliza · 27/08/2020 17:48

Yes it was rape and please don't give yourself a hard time for 'making more of it in your mind'. It was enormous from the moment he chose to ignore whether you wanted it or not. He made it a big deal, not you.

SonjaMorgan · 27/08/2020 17:50

It was rape. Unfortunately there always seems to blame placed on the victim, for me I had a drink and went on a date but it could be anything.

BottomOfMyPencilCase · 27/08/2020 17:54

Yes it was rape and yes he knew it.
Have you spoken to anyone about it or received counselling? If it's resurfacing, maybe it's time to chat about it with a professional.

heartache590 · 27/08/2020 17:55

Your version of events suggests rape. Ultimately you have a decision to make:

A) Report it
B) Do nothing

I would suggest counselling, and I would say report it... however, it is 15 years ago, and your word against his. The police will likely say there is a lack of evidence and he may be interviewed. He is unlikely to admit it.

I would again emphasise, you do need to speak to a charity as reporting it is encouraged and it can be empowering, however your testimony isnt typically enough to convict him.

CrazyToast · 27/08/2020 17:56

Absolutely rape, he held you down and continued when you resisted and were crying. He is a rapist and he knows it, that's why he blanked you afterward. You absolutely have the right to react emotionally. You were attacked in your own bed by this man.

CareBear50 · 27/08/2020 17:56

Yes love - Def rape. If this happened in the eighties say, I think there was more of a culture that this was okay. It's not. It's awful. I hope if you decide to see a counsellor you can find some closure In Time.

What an ass. And the fact he told everyone too to look like the big lad when he had actually forced you!!! 💐💐💐

faithfulbird · 27/08/2020 17:58

If he's done that to you so randomly he's done it to other girls. It is not your fault. It was all him. He probably knew what he was doing and probably did it before and is doing it now. It was not your fault so please don't guilt yourself. It's rape because you didn't want to quite clearly. Have you thought about talking to someone about it or reporting it? Seeing if any other girls have had a similar experience? I'm sorry I never know what to say or if what I'm saying is wrong. But if I met him I'd knock him out.

LadyLairdArgyll · 27/08/2020 17:59

Sorry OP, yes this was Rape Flowers

BashfulClam · 27/08/2020 17:59

Read what you said. Where was your consent, he forced himself on you and knew you were resisting as he told you to stop and he knew you were crying...surely he knowS if a partner is willing they are not usually sobbing and trying to resist. He raped you and your inaction afterwards is very common please do not feel you didn’t fight enough or did anything wrong. It’s usual to freeze in fear and then do nothing but try to get it over with then pack it away in your mind. Now it’s coming back to the surface you can decide what to do. YOU DID NOTHING WRONG he is a RAPIST!

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