Braided

Seventeenth Day of Highschool

Seventeenth Day of Highschool

Dear Diary,

It happened to Shawna too...
Today in Christian club she gave her testimony and if I wasn't cautious my mouth would have dropped to the floor.
She told us that between her 8th and 9th-grade year of summer she went to summer camp. She told me she had met this guy who was in the same school district as her but went to a different middle school. I remember realizing he must go here because this was the only high school in the district. She said he paid extra close attention to her and always complimented the way she wore her hair in a braid. I was shocked as I listened to her the whole entire world froze. They would go drinking out in the woods and sometimes kiss. It was all fun and games until one time he made her do something she didn't want to do. She said after that day he made everyone stop talking to her at camp. The similarities were striking? Was it him? She then talked about how he harassed her for a full year until the next summer. Then she said something that absolutely shocked me.
She said the reason why she could talk about it today was that she forgave him. She talked about how Jesus said to forgive others and how the moment she let go of her inner anger she felt the weight of the world was lifted off her shoulders.
The rest of the day I wanted to talk to her but the words weren't coming out. I didn't know what to say but after the club, I hugged her. She was shocked but I could tell she appreciated it. It was a half-day so we all gotta go home after the 4th period of the day.
My Mom asked me if I was going to the football game later that night. She offered to drive me and a friend there if I wanted. I shook my head no.
She then suggested we go out to my favorite restaurant for dinner. So, my Mom, my Dad and I went to my favorite Chinese restaurant. It's a little hole in the wall place called The Orange Wok. I get my usual sweet and sour chicken. My parents do the same because honestly, it's the best chicken we have ever had in our life. But today I couldn't focus on the food and was having an inner dialog with myself about what I was going to say to Shawna. I think this is it. I think I will finally have the courage to talk.