The Girl He Never Wanted [Completed]

39-FINITE

FINITE

But I may have spoken too soon because I may not survive. I pushed my hand on the bleeding wound in my left abdomen.

Mang Cardo was unconscious prone on the floor bleeding. Sammy and Alex were on the stairs also not moving. I was not sure whether they were alive or not.

Reporters indeed told the world about my story. The lady who inched her way into the front was a representative from a reputable international news network. She told my story according to how I narrated it. She delivered my truth very well.

I was very appreciative of how she respected my experience. She had tears in her eyes when she thanked me profusely. More and more women came forward to tell their stories; she's one of them, one of us.

Over the following days, I have been granting interviews. I stood in front of a room full of survivors to share to them my story. We shared tearful hugs at the end of it.

Above all, I have become an advocate for those who could not speak up. Also, an advocate to prevent these things from happening to others. More and more people listened and believed the survivors' stories.

We did not leave each other to carry the burden alone. It was no longer a dirty, shameful secret to many of them. They stepped forward and people listened.

I discussed the myths surrounding these assaults. The society needs to learn them and make it a shared effort to improve our behaviors and beliefs. Everyday became an opportunity for the society to examine their behaviors and biases.

Rape culture has allowed sexual violence to be normalized and justified. It is further fueled by gender inequalities.

"Boys will be boys." A panelist introduced this justification of sexual violence.

"Untrue and a load of crap. It is an unscientific excuse to attack others. It also assumes the worst from boys while minimizing the trauma among girls." I explained the gender bias in this myth regarding assaults.

"She acted slutty and dressed like a slut so was asking for it." Another panelist brought this controversial myth, which often create a division especially between conservatives and open-minded ones.

"This objectification of women is very wrong." I shook my head in dismay as I prepared to tackle this issue. "Anything she does, she wears, or how she acts is never an invitation to rape her."

"What do you wish people know to prevent rape?" One attendee asked from below the stage.

"First, consent." I answered with so much dismay. "A no is no. Threatening her to agree is not consent. Being drunk to the point that she could not say yes or no is not consent."

"What an important insight!" A fellow panelist commented.

"Second, have each other's backs." I smiled and thanked her before proceeding. "Do not hesitate to intervene if you notice something is amiss. It will alert the perpetrator of their unacceptable behavior. It will help someone stay safe."

"Third, raise our children to become better members of the society. That they do not grow up to become assholes and menaces." I smiled as I looked around encouraging everyone there. "Some circumstances might be out of our control, but we should still try our best."

"Our physical wounds heal. Just because we are resilient doesn't mean we are not suffering. And that's okay too. That's perfectly normal. Ask for help. Extend a hand to help. We will thrive!" I delivered my last piece of encouragement before ending the session with a lot of tears and hugs.

The discussion was live on television, on Facebook, and other social media platforms. People poured in their support for our cause.

We attended various galas to benefit the survivors. I have received words of support and gratitude. I refused other conferences from outside the metro area because of my pregnancy.