sinkingfeeling
sinkingfeeling's JournalAbout girls and women not telling after they're attacked
When I was 15 years old, I went into Columbus to shop on a day we didn't have school. My mom was a secretary for a small insurance company and worked on the 12th. floor of a building housing multiple businesses.
As I was coming back to her office. I stepped into the elevator with a single man. He was probably 40 and dressed in jeans. As the elevator began its climb, he came up behind me and dropped to his knees. He placed one of his hands on each side of my leg and started up under my dress (this was the early "60s). I did not say a word. I shoved him off balance as my hand searched for the elevator buttons. Some how I hit like floor 7 and the doors suddenly opened. I tore out, but didn't even try to enter an office where help might have been. I ran around the corner and started down the stairs. He followed. I was faster and made it to the ground floor. Again, there were people everywhere, but I went out the door and ran up the busy street. He followed me for about two blocks before giving up and turning around.
I never told my parents nor sister nor best friend. I told no one until I told my husband about it 7 years later.
Why? I was ashamed that I tempted a man at age 15? I was ashamed some complete stranger had touched me? I don't know. My mother passed away in 2015 at 96. I'm now 70 and I never told her.
I had to release my best friend of the last 14 plus years this morning.
Hank came to me as a teenager, about 14 or 15 months old, back in 2004. He was pulled from a shelter in northern Kentucky by an American Eskimo Rescue in Ohio. It was there that he became the BFF of another Eskie, Sugar. It was estimated that Sugar was 10 to 12 months older than Hank.
I found Sugar on Petfinders and was given the opportunity to adopt him. My mom and sister were in Ohio and went by to check him out and discovered the deep bond between Hank and Sugar. I decided to adopt them together.
Sugar lost his right front leg to cancer in 2012. I lost him suddenly the day after Thanksgiving last year.
Hank had lost his hearing and could only see light and blurs. He had a rough attack of vestibular syndrome on Jan. 27th., spent 5 days in hospital and had a CT scan. He recovered fairly well physically, but seemed not to remember anything from his former life. He needed help finding his food and water. I carried him up and down stairs every day. He slept with me every night for over 14 years.
About this time last night, he became unstable on his feet and vomited his dinner. I knew it was another attack of the vestibular syndrome. I rushed him to our emergency clinic where they could start IV fluids and watch him overnight. I picked him up there at 6:30 AM and took him directly to our vet's office. He barely stirred. She said she doubted he could recover again, so I sent him to rejoin Sugar.
I've cried until I don't think I can cry any more. And I keep looking for him. How can I sleep tonight without my Hankie Boo next to me? I loved him. It hurts so much to see them go.
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Gender: Do not displayHometown: Illinois
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