I know the truth.

I know what was taken from me, what really happened after I passed out in the back room at that party. I remember waking up and feeling tainted- the feeling has never gone away.

But the circumstances don’t add up. Nobody saw it happen, nobody noticed me stumbling away, away from the lights and music. What was a girl like me doing, drinking booze and flirting with older guys? I shouldn’t have been there, anyway. I should have been home studying. I got carried away. That’s what they said.

I called. I picked up my cellphone from the purse that was emptied out next to me. I dialed three numbers. I tried to keep my voice controlled as I spoke to them, told them my location, said yes I was alone and yes he was gone.

My case was dismissed. Dismissed, like whoever was in charged waved a hand and labeled it “unidentifiable”. My parents are disappointed and my church is in scandal and my school doesn’t want it on their record.

They tried to cover it up. But it will never leave me.