What are you supposed to do
when the man who caused you pain
Is someone who is known to you
whose memory will remain?

What do you tell those you love
that he was one of your friends?
Can you rely on their support,
on whom can you depend?

What can you do to ease the pain
the feelings of emtpiness
Do you hide them to yourself
in your own dark abyss?

How do you go about day to day
knowing what he has done?
When you see him all the time ~
his life is still full of fun.

How do you cope knowing
that he walks easy and free
No justice prevails upon him
for what he did to me?

How do you keep from falling
into loneliness and shame
That he says you had asked for it
and now you are to blame.

How do you hold your head up
and not cry shameful tears
When the memory of what he did to me
will haunt me through the years?

How do you go on with life
hoping it will fade away
Living with the aftermath
coping day to day.

And how do you know that you're safe,
and not in any danger?
For what are you supposed to do
when he's not a stranger?

© Christina
10th April, 1992

"Aquaintance-rape or date-rape is not only a violation, but a betrayal. When someone you know, who was a friend, forces themselves upon you....the ultimate in degradation and invasion. It is a hard crime to prove and convict, unfortunately, yet it happens all the time. Once you say "NO!" even once, and he forces you, then it is rape - regardless....even in marriage. And it is the worst shame ~ someone you trusted, you thought you knew.
When he is not a stranger....he'll lie and say you asked for it, he'll blame you, he'll make you out to be the liar, and that you consented.
When he is not a stranger....it is harder to prove that a crime took place, and you will endure another invasion to prove that it did.
When he is not a stranger....you feel like you will never trust again.
I felt all this, although I never pursued action....he will be judged for what he did in time. It will come back to him, and haunt him, like it has me."