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On June 8th, so much in my life changed instantly by decisions taken by another that were completely out of my control. At the time, I had no idea just how much my life was going to change as I held the hand of the paramedic in the back of the ambulance. On that early Sunday morning I was victim to a crime that has claimed many victims and has claimed the lives of many of those victims. Even just acknowledging that is so difficult. The difficulty comes not in the fact that I personally was a victim but that there are victims. The difficulty comes in the realization that this evil does exist. The night that I came home from the hospital was an epic night in which I laid in my mother’s bed with her, my sister-in-law, and my aunt just trying to make sense of such a senseless crime. At the time, and some time following, I felt incredibly alone. I felt as though the society we live in allows these crimes because it tolerates them. I was so hurt that I couldn’t trust in anyone or anything. On June 8th, although I physically survived I felt as though I was dead. I felt as though I was a wreck of a woman, unable to cope with a world that seemed so cruel. It was as though this were my cross to bear alone. However, this was not the case. I was not going to get through this alone because family and friends and even strangers would not allow it. The next day I was surprised to find flowers on my doorstep. Granted, I figured I would receive condolence from close friends and family but these flowers bearing a heartfelt card came from someone I barely knew. With every letter, with every flower, with every prayer, I felt as though I was slowly coming back from the scared and secluded withdrawn place I had created within myself. These gifts were not merely gifts. Each gift represented someone’s desperate attempt to make it known that they were moved to action. Something within my story had upset them, angered them, and motivated them to connect to me to let me know, “You are not alone.” And these gestures came from friends of friends, neighbors down the street, and people across town. I was astonished that people cared because for once in my life I experienced a brief moment in which I felt as though no one cared and I was completely alone. The biggest realization came when I learned of the success of the Run2Overcome. I received news that many people were organizing a 5k Run dedicated to overcoming fear within our community. The Run2Overcome, as it was creatively named, was going to raise awareness of my story, violence against victims, and safety for joggers. I was overwhelmed by the organizers’ compassion. I figured that run would be a success with a hundred or so participants. When I was told that one thousand three hundred participants ran the same course as I had run, I cried. For the first time in weeks, I cried with a smile on my face. Those 1300 people represent 1300 people saying, “in our community, rape and violence is not tolerated.” Those 1300 people represent 1300 people saying, “You are not alone. We are with you.” For so long, I thought that I was the only person affected on June 8th, but on August 2nd 1300 people had also been affected. I will never be able to express how every letter, every flower, and every jogger has made me realize that for all the evil in this world, there is still so much good. A world in which there is no hope is truly a world not worth living in. For so long, I was hopeless. But every jogger and every effort someone has made for me is one ounce of hope that my heart has regained. As you can imagine, with the success of the Run2Overcome, I am finally overflowing with hope. A ‘thank you’ simply won’t suffice to describe the gratitude, appreciation, and love I have for every person who has reached out to me or has simply said a silent prayer. At a time where I felt dead, every gesture has brought me back to life. How can I simply say thank you when I was saved by my community physically, emotionally, and spiritually? I am truly proud to be a part of the community we have all created in Greenville and am proud to call Greenville my home. |
