I feel like as a man I have no right speaking about this. But it is absolutely heartbreaking
This world is so broken I cannot believe what you and other women have to endure. My sister has also endured some pretty messed up stuff that she absolutely did not deserve. She is a sweetheart who just wanted to lead a normal life
My heart breaks that you (and other women) have to read every person, analyze every move. Just to be assaulted for no reason. The expectations, the questioning from your peers and family of your reality and what happened.
I try not to swear
But fuck man why is it every woman I know has endured something like this
Why are there so many goddamn creeps and predatory men
Why do people get away with shit like this
Especially people in power
It breaks my heart
It makes me so mad
I am so sorry.
I hope you find peace from what you have endured.
And I am thankful you are still alive to talk about it
What comes around goes around in one way or another.
Thank you so much for this comment. I think as a man, more men should speak up about this!! Thank you for commenting even when it must feel strange putting your words out there. It means a lot!!🩵🩵
This is so beautifully written, and it speaks to such a painful truth. It’s heartbreaking that standing up for ourselves can sometimes put us at risk, that survival so often means shrinking ourselves. I think so many women wish they could say they’ve never experienced this, but sadly, it touches us all, either directly or through those we love. I am so proud of you, Anya, for sharing this part of your soul. It takes so much courage to give voice to something so heavy, yet so universal.
Thank you for sharing—this isn’t an easy thing to write about. I just know so many women who read your work feel seen and understood by this, I know I do. Dissolving shame and self-disgust is one of the most important things for us as women to be happy and healthy, as well as capable of protecting ourselves and each other 🤍
Aww I appreciate this comment so much! Thank you 🤎🤎 It took me awhile to write and articulate a heavy subject in a light but deep way. Thank you for reading 🩵
This is so heartbreaking Anya..I am really sorry that you have to went through all this...he was such a dirty man with dirty intentions...but you are now a grown up brave girl and don't ever let anyone dull your confidence and self respect! More power to you...
Thank you for sharing. It's so disheartening how many of us are affected by this. And if we aren't, we most definitely know at least one person who has been. It's so important to share our stories and raise awareness. I appreciated the way you approached this topic and your unique voice in your piece.
I find it difficult to understand why any 'man' would think it was even remotely okay to behave in such a way. It makes me sad and angry, neither of which does women any good. This piece resonates with me and reminds me of a conversation I had with my lecturer at university. That chat led to my own short story, 'Buyer Beware', which looks at it from the other side: the viewpoint of a man who feels tainted by the actions of the predators.
It's a sad, sad world for us women. We cannot do things as simple as talking a walk around the block we live in without feeling eyes trailing our backs. I'm sorry you went through something like that. No person deserves that. Yet, we live in a world where cruelty wins over kindness in every way these days. I hope your words bring people comfort upon reading as they brought me. Sending warmth and love to you <3
This piece captures something that so often gets erased in conversations about safety: survival isn’t always loud, it’s strategic. The way you show how “playing nice” can be the difference between walking away and not walking away at all makes the reader feel that tension in their own body.
What stayed with me most was how you reframed those “Why didn’t you just—” questions. They carry judgment when asked from the outside, but from the inside they’re really survival calculations. Thank you for giving language to that space, the quiet choices, the lies told to protect ourselves, the moments where fear is misread as passivity.
Your essay feels like both testimony and defense: a reminder that staying alive is its own kind of courage.
you put this so eloquently yet so brutally raw and honestly and i dont know if either was intentional but its so impactful. im so sickened by the world we live in sometimes but you are remarkable <3
Thank you so much!! It’s something some people touch on when it comes to extremes but there’s still so much that happens that is not okay and needs to be addressed. Thank you for your words🩵
Its heartbreaking only... Almost everyone has been facing or faced this... Thanks a lot for speaking up ... This will strengthen a lot other women... Lots of love n strength to you.. 🫶🫶
This post is gut-wrenching and necessary. You put into words what so many carry in silence—the fear, the hyper-awareness, the survival tactics we’re forced to learn. Thank you for your courage. Your voice matters, and it speaks for more people than you know.
I hear you and know this 💙 x
… in the words of Atwood
‘Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them’
Wow amazing quote🩵
I feel like as a man I have no right speaking about this. But it is absolutely heartbreaking
This world is so broken I cannot believe what you and other women have to endure. My sister has also endured some pretty messed up stuff that she absolutely did not deserve. She is a sweetheart who just wanted to lead a normal life
My heart breaks that you (and other women) have to read every person, analyze every move. Just to be assaulted for no reason. The expectations, the questioning from your peers and family of your reality and what happened.
I try not to swear
But fuck man why is it every woman I know has endured something like this
Why are there so many goddamn creeps and predatory men
Why do people get away with shit like this
Especially people in power
It breaks my heart
It makes me so mad
I am so sorry.
I hope you find peace from what you have endured.
And I am thankful you are still alive to talk about it
What comes around goes around in one way or another.
But fuck me it still doesn't make things better
Thank you so much for this comment. I think as a man, more men should speak up about this!! Thank you for commenting even when it must feel strange putting your words out there. It means a lot!!🩵🩵
This is so beautifully written, and it speaks to such a painful truth. It’s heartbreaking that standing up for ourselves can sometimes put us at risk, that survival so often means shrinking ourselves. I think so many women wish they could say they’ve never experienced this, but sadly, it touches us all, either directly or through those we love. I am so proud of you, Anya, for sharing this part of your soul. It takes so much courage to give voice to something so heavy, yet so universal.
Thank you so much for these beautiful and heartfelt words. It means so much to have so much support in this community. 🤎
That’s so sad and unfortunate.
I recall my conversation with my friend, who is a girl.
“You guys are scared of rejection becoz… you just feel insulted…
But we women are scared of rejection becoz we think we might be killed”…
So both rejection are not the same…
Great point💔💔💔
Thank you for sharing—this isn’t an easy thing to write about. I just know so many women who read your work feel seen and understood by this, I know I do. Dissolving shame and self-disgust is one of the most important things for us as women to be happy and healthy, as well as capable of protecting ourselves and each other 🤍
Aww I appreciate this comment so much! Thank you 🤎🤎 It took me awhile to write and articulate a heavy subject in a light but deep way. Thank you for reading 🩵
This is so heartbreaking Anya..I am really sorry that you have to went through all this...he was such a dirty man with dirty intentions...but you are now a grown up brave girl and don't ever let anyone dull your confidence and self respect! More power to you...
Thank you so much beautiful 🩵🩵
Thank you for sharing. It's so disheartening how many of us are affected by this. And if we aren't, we most definitely know at least one person who has been. It's so important to share our stories and raise awareness. I appreciated the way you approached this topic and your unique voice in your piece.
Yes! Thank you for your support 🩵
Ah. This is such a brutal reality and almost all girls must have felt this. You captured it! It’s heartbreaking.
Sadly :// thank you for commenting beautiful 🩵
I find it difficult to understand why any 'man' would think it was even remotely okay to behave in such a way. It makes me sad and angry, neither of which does women any good. This piece resonates with me and reminds me of a conversation I had with my lecturer at university. That chat led to my own short story, 'Buyer Beware', which looks at it from the other side: the viewpoint of a man who feels tainted by the actions of the predators.
Thank you for your words! I appreciate you speaking up even when it can be an uncomfortable topic🤎🤎
It's a sad, sad world for us women. We cannot do things as simple as talking a walk around the block we live in without feeling eyes trailing our backs. I'm sorry you went through something like that. No person deserves that. Yet, we live in a world where cruelty wins over kindness in every way these days. I hope your words bring people comfort upon reading as they brought me. Sending warmth and love to you <3
I agree, thank you so much! I appreciate your kind words💞
I am so sorry you had to experience what you did. And as a man, I am sorry we didn’t build a world where you could safely hold your boundaries
This piece captures something that so often gets erased in conversations about safety: survival isn’t always loud, it’s strategic. The way you show how “playing nice” can be the difference between walking away and not walking away at all makes the reader feel that tension in their own body.
What stayed with me most was how you reframed those “Why didn’t you just—” questions. They carry judgment when asked from the outside, but from the inside they’re really survival calculations. Thank you for giving language to that space, the quiet choices, the lies told to protect ourselves, the moments where fear is misread as passivity.
Your essay feels like both testimony and defense: a reminder that staying alive is its own kind of courage.
Wow thank you so much! You’ve captured in just a few words my main message. I appreciate you🤎🤎
The pleasure is mine🤍🤍 I really appreciate you too🧚
Aww thank you 🩵🩵
🤍🤍
you put this so eloquently yet so brutally raw and honestly and i dont know if either was intentional but its so impactful. im so sickened by the world we live in sometimes but you are remarkable <3
Thank you so much!! It’s something some people touch on when it comes to extremes but there’s still so much that happens that is not okay and needs to be addressed. Thank you for your words🩵
Its heartbreaking only... Almost everyone has been facing or faced this... Thanks a lot for speaking up ... This will strengthen a lot other women... Lots of love n strength to you.. 🫶🫶
Thank you so much! I appreciate you 🤎🤎
This post is gut-wrenching and necessary. You put into words what so many carry in silence—the fear, the hyper-awareness, the survival tactics we’re forced to learn. Thank you for your courage. Your voice matters, and it speaks for more people than you know.
Thank you so much 🤎 I appreciate your kind word 🩵🩵
My goodness..
“The people who love to ask the ‘Why didn’t you just—‘ questions, I find, are often the ones who’ve never truly feared for their lives before.”
Truly and it takes a bit of trust away from the people you confide in…
So true!! 💔