I read a blog on a TedTalk about male violence and poverty. I didn’t see the talk, just read the blog. I thought I had such a fortunate life not to have experienced this but then I remembered something I have never told anyone ever.

I was walking to meet some friends at our junior high school, so, like 8th grade. It was about a half of a mile from home, but I walked this way every day. There was no one around, it was a day off of school. This car pulled up and an unshaven man asked me if I wanted a ride. I was panicky and freaking out. I knew it wasn’t a good thing, but, I didn’t want  to be rude. Back in the day, you weren’t rude to adults, but you shouldn’t talk to strangers. I just yelled no thank you and ran away through the elementary school to the junior high. My heart was pounding, I was so scared. Nothing happened, but who knew?

I never told anyone. Not sure why. I guess because I was okay?

I have talked to a lot of people since, but not about this but about their abuse. The people I know who were abused were abused by family members, which is so horrible.

What can we do to make this go away?