“Most people say developing is linear, but for survivors it is cyclic. People grow up, victims grow around; we strengthen around the place that hurt, become older and fuller, but the vulnerable core is never gone.”

TRIGGER WARNING: sexual assault

There are no words to describe how this made me feel. It’s not something you can go into lightly and as a survivor, this brought up a lot of emotions for me.

We are living in a world that is conditioned to protect abusers and rapists. Why is it that the first thought when someone speaks out about their assault is that they’re lying? Why is it that the majority care more about how the rapist’s life is affected than the victims?

Why is it always, what were you wearing? Did you provoke him? Why were you drinking? Why were you out alone? Rather than ask the questions you should be?

Why did he think it was okay to lay his hands on them? What gave him the right to decide what they do or don’t consent to? What is it about a person drinking or having fun or wearing an outfit that might show a bit of skin that gives him the right to say, I am owed something from this?

There is power and strength in talking about subjects that society has led many of us to believe Taboo. There is power and strength in coming together as a community to heal and support one another as victims. 

One of the most heartbreaking things about this book is the reminder that it isn’t a work of fiction, not for Chanel, not for myself and not for the hundreds of millions of people across the world.

Chanel handled this with such grace and there are no words to describe how empowering and utterly phenomenal this memoir is, not just for me, but for many victims and supporters alike.

As heavy as this was, I am so grateful that I took the time to read it. This is extremely special to me.

Thank you, Chanel, for being our voice and for continuing to elevate others.