This is hard for me to write but a few weeks ago I was assaulted by the man who lives opposite me. It was Saturday night and I was walking home, having drank far too much unfortunately. He appeared as I was walking through a dark wooded area behind my house and all under the guise of ‘helping you home safely’ he proceeded to assault me. I got out of there without my shoes, without my underwear and when I got home I saw I had blood smears all over the front of my dress. He didn’t rape me, it was all forceful fingers and groping and trying to stick his tongue in my mouth.
I tried not to tell anyone and just bury it, but he lives opposite and I just couldn’t. After two weeks I cracked and told DP. He went crazy and in the school carpark of all places he practically ripped the guys car door off its hinges and got in the car with him, had him by the throat and was yelling ‘You hurt my girlfriend, I’m going to fucking destroy you!’ The whole altercation lasted about two minutes before DP returned to me shaking, burst in to tears and had to go and stand at the end of the street to compose himself. I was mortified.
Since then I’ve confided in a few female friends. Two have been absolutely amazing and really supportive. No questions asked, just hugs, kind messages to check if I need anything etc.
One friend I confided in was initially very kind, and then proceeded to badger me to spend time with her. She even messaged me to tell me she had taken the day off work to ‘come and support me’. I declined. I didn’t want company, just to be alone for now to process everything. Many messages ensued asking if she could come over. I tried to explain that I wasn’t good company at the moment and then took to just leaving her messages unread. Not very nice of me, I know.
Then she said something online about friendship that I felt it might be a dig at me. I messaged her to ask if she was ok and to apologise for not being very responsive. She replied ‘Like you’d care’. I was taken aback….i mean, we are grown women with children, this isn’t how we’re supposed to treat each other when in need. The exchange that followed was deeply unpleasant. She was probing me for details about the attack that I haven’t told a soul. I said I’m not sharing that with you and then she said ‘You need to get your story straight’. ‘Better not go to the police, hey?’
I blocked her on everything. But it’s really broken me. The insinuation that I’m lying because I don’t want to tell her all the juicy details? Was I wrong to refuse her company?