I said this in my first part of the post but I knew nothing except what had happened to me. I was not equipped with information or understanding. I did not even know that there were more forms of rape then just with a penis, and women can rape men! Education has become the number one way I have been able to faciliate healing. By learning for myself, (as there was no real pathway or help available) the ways I could help myself and the different forms of trauma. I did a lot of self analysis, got therapy and followed a pathway noone else shared with me. Its been very hard and very alone most of the time. BUT, as I have begun to get braver, seek outside support and share stories like this one, its created an environment of hope and a place for new beginnings for me. I hope that this no longer defines so much of my story because I do something so much bigger, so much more spectacular that I just forget! That's the hope. ALSO I have hope that maybe, in sharing my story, most of all, that I might be able to STOP it before it happens to someone else. And the more of us that do, come out of the shadows, and into the light, the more demons cannot hide and lurk there. The more we make it impossible for it to happen (changing our social norms) and educating each other and our boys and girls, early, the more we create change. Waves of it. There is plenty to be hopeful for.