Survivor Story #5: Longing for Justice

R.H | 28 June 2023 | Survivor Stories

I was just trying to enjoy a night out with my friends.

A night out for my friend's birthday turned into the worst night of my life. Having the best time on the dance floor, to being spiked with a needle, to being taken advantage of by a stranger.

We, a group of approximately ten of us, were dancing when I was spiked with a needle. Instead of leaving the club, we chose to stay, despite the encouragement of my friends to go home and rest. I wanted to party on my friend’s birthday and enjoy the night out I’d been looking forward to.

Not long after, I met the person who would change my life forever. We met on the dance floor and after dancing for a while, agreed to spend the night together, exchanging snapchats and then continuing on with our friends, messaging throughout the night.

My friends left the club before I did. I didn’t know anyone else there. I left with him and we made our way back to his hotel room.

I will never forget the moment that I had to choose what to do. I could either make a scene to alert his friends and risk the chance of a gang r*pe, or stay in that room, helpless, pinned against a wall, unable to move.

My body chose for me. When they say fight, flight or freeze, they truly mean it. I was frozen to the spot. The words “stop” and “no” left my mouth more times than I could count. I was pinned against the wall, being taken advantage of by someone I had only known for a few hours.

After he took what he wanted, he kicked me out. He told me there would be no room for me to stay the night and that I’d have to find a way home. I waited outside in the cold at approximately 3:30am, vulnerable, and alone.

I never got my justice. He gets to live freely while I deal with the effects of his actions for the rest of my life.  I will continue to fight for justice. No one deserves this. I didn’t deserve this.