M– I am SO SORRY to hear that. <3 I can’t believe how many people this affects. I “never thought it would be me,” but it was. And it’s far too many other people.

As for telling people, it’s more like, the more people I can tell about it, the less I have to worry about it being “my fault.” So seeking some sort of absolution. Which I can stop, because something in me knows that it isn’t my fault, but I do still blame myself for the fallout from it, from the assault to the broken relationship and feeling like a burden on my friends and family. Intellectually I know this to be NOT true, but some days it feels true. And it definitely felt true the other day.

I had a friend send me a “heart hug” about a month ago. I am sending one to you now.