As I came to the end of the trail, I felt at peace. I had been thinking of how I have been focused on the the end of this, even though there really is no end and we will always deal with this in some way in the future. I was thinking about how when I hike I look forward, not looking where my feet are falling. The path was covered in leaves so I knew I was in danger of missing something that could lead me to stumble. And of course I made it to the end of the path where I missed a root and sprained my ankle.
It really made me think about how I have been processing all that has happened this year. I’ve spent so much time on just wanting it to get better, to just have it over with and I realized it doesn’t happen that way.
I am at a place where I am asking what is my next step. What do we do now since an arrest is not going to be made? Statue of limitations will run out in a year and our son’s chance for justice will be gone. How do we process all the damage, all that has been stolen from our son, our family. We have watched our son lose his education, time with friends and family, his trust in people, all because of the actions of one person.
My son in his anger unleashed on about all he had lost. He said to me what are you going to do, you need to do more, I only have one more year.
So what am I to do? I’ve been looking forward, to just getting us all through. Maybe it’s time to start thinking about my next step along this path. I don’t want my son to feel this happened and the world just moves on. I want him to know I will be fighting for something to change. A five year window for justice is not enough time. Maybe my next step is not being quiet, not just waiting for justice to come. Maybe it’s time to look into what steps I need to take to advocate for all of us who have been sexually assaulted and the statue of limitations have run out.
Here is my first step. Awarenes.
Did you know that in the state of Indiana a child who is raped has only until they are 31 years old to prosecute, a child who is molested has only five years from the time of an offense to prosecute?
I was 25 before I told a soul I had been raped as a child. My son waited 2 years. Most victims never disclose.
Five years versus a lifetime of emotional duress...Doesn’t seem like a fair chance at justice...
