She started frantically walking, chasing the taxi. To no avail. She seemed invisible to the said vehicles on the side of the busy street. It was past 9 o'clock in the morning and she's late for an important seminar. Great!
At last, a taxi stopped in front of her, a passenger went out, and so, she grabbed the opportunity to grasp the handle of the car door and in she goes to the passenger seat. She sighed as she sank on her seat, relieved. She gradually checked the time on her watch and her eyes widened in disbelief. It's nearing to 10 o'clock! What in the world? She must have slipped her mind and thought she can still chase the time.
She arrived at the building of the venue. She swiftly went out of the vehicle, cramming her way out as she carries her red shoulder bag on her right shoulder and a big cylinder bag on the left. She managed to thank the driver of the vehicle whilst paying her fare. As she marched to the entrance of the building, a familiar scent caught her attention as if there's still time for some other things other than the important meeting she's about to attend.
She gulped and erased the thought that's creeping its way into her mind. Now's not the time for that!
She marched through the revolving door of the building, making her way in and passing the lobby only to come back to the lobby to approach the receptionist. She asked the woman, in what must be in her late 20s wearing a thick-rimmed glasses, where the seminar is held. The woman said that she's supposed to go to the big convention hall located at the left side of the building.
She thanked the receptionist and she marched once again. Her pencil skirt is rubbing tightly against her thighs as she frantically walked. Inside her mind, she's thinking that she must be crazy right now for being late to a seminar that she's the guest speaker. Yes, she is the speaker. She smiled painfully at the fact.
When she arrived at the venue, the audience chairs are fully packed. The way the heads of the people started looking at her one after the other sent chills to her system. It's as if she just wanted to storm out of there, her social anxiety started creeping in. But instead, she gulped before flashing a big smile. Hopefully, they don't notice her shaking hands while taking out what must be a pile of rolled big piece of papers out of her big cylinder bag.
The emcee offered her a microphone and she flashed a big smile once again. "I'm so sorry for being late!" She even managed to cackle lightly.
"Once again, our guest speaker, Keli Kekua!" The emcee introduced to the audience. Some clapped while the other remained their hands to their laps as they gazed questioningly at her.
She smiled again. "By the way, who wants to hear a story? A story of a survivor like all of you." She gently started and traveled her gaze at the audience.
And then, she sat on the provided chair for her on the stage and started telling them a story.
After her long speech about surviving sexual assault and undergoing treatment for PTSD, she felt the release of the weight pinning down her chest, she got relieved. During her talk a while ago, the audience was silent but she saw everyone's eyes grew from nonchalant to emotional. She knew what they're feeling right then and there; it was painful. But she pushed through because she want these people to know that they're not alone and they're going to be fine. It's actually the fact that they're not alone that makes this whole thing horrible; knowing that anyone out there is still experiencing and has experienced sexual assault is horrible. To be honest, not just sexual assault but any form of assault in general is a horrible and a sinister thing no one should go through.
She released a deep sigh as she was putting her things inside her bag, trying to push away the thoughts in her mind.
"Miss Kekua?" A meek voice surfaced behind her. She turned and saw a girl in her early teen years dressed in a faded baggy jeans and a big knitted sweater. It is actually summer in Arizona and the weather is hot. She knew right then and there why this girl is dressed that way.
