I’ve been on several dates with D  before. He seemed nice. He’s new to the area, moved here from a major city, experiencing culture shock I know all to well. We’ve bonded, but I’ve felt no chemistry. I do, however, enjoy talking to him. He lives in a college town, about an hour away, but he’s driven to see me a few times. He invited me over tonight to hang out, drink a couple of beers and just, chill. AS I didn’t have any plans, and I now have a car, I thought it appropriate. To be honest, I’ve put him so far into the friend’s category I don’t think he’d ever manage to get out if he turned into a sex god on fire…

Well, after two beers, he started getting touchy feel-y. At first it was friendly, and then it was really aggressive. In a ridiculously scary way. I repeatedly said no, in number of different ways. I told him “I don’t want to do this”, and he took his shirt off, said “why not?” and kissed me harder. I said “no” and pushed him away, and he literally got on top of me. I said “stop” and got stiff as a board. I was seriously afraid I was going to be in trouble. Real, live trouble. I kept having flashes of talking to police officers and going to the hospital. I was so scared. I was terrified of being a story of date rape that nurses, doctors, and cops go home and tell their daughters.

In the end, he paused for something, and I bolted. I grabbed my purse and said “I’m going now”. I don’t think I’ve ever ran so fast. His neighbors even commented on it. I am safe, nothing really happened. Bottom line is, you have to be careful. You have to have an exit plan. You have to think ahead. I’ve spent a lot of time with this guy. He’s not someone I just met. I never thought he’d be that aggressive. I never thought I would be anything other than safe with him. Turns out I was wrong.

I’m sharing this not for sympathy, not for anything other than a reminder to every woman out there. I want you all to be extra careful. It only takes one time for something that could change your life in a horrible way to happen. And now, now I take an Ativan and I try to sleep.