There are events 

few speak of,

fear it will be indecent

to mention the words 

needed to explain

some types of pain

inflicted on the meek,

actions malevolent

persons seek

to inflict on others.

---

on a cold day

in a dark place

a man of mediocre

skills inflicted his will on her.

she lay naked 

helpless

faint from the horrific

event she just endured.

she staggers in to have

the semen from her vagina

preserved for future

investigation.

---

statutory rape is beyond

understanding,

something that only happens to others

something that leaves a woman wondering

do I report this?

for to do so could be walking into 

another hell

will others believe what she tells?

---

she knew him

he was her boss

an attractive man

one she would have dated

if she had not hated him so. 

alone with him in his office,

he takes pause from his dictation,

stands up, steps uncomfortabley close.

she feels a sensation

a desire to run

but figured she was just being dumb.

he leans down and lifts her skirt over her head.

she doesn't remember much after that because

her mind went dead

she was out of her body

and he was in.

after, he lowers her skirt

and walks out the door,

she felt like a whore.

why didn't she fight?

she just allowed it to happen

she did not even scream.

she has gone in to have evidence collected

but fears reporting due to her need for employment.

---

it's a story not unique

just one that is difficult to speak about.

yes, there are rules in place

but reality often makes women face

men that don't care about rules.

women that do not have the tools

to defend are in a bad position.

---

I saw many women like this when I 

had the honor to teach self defense.

my heart was heavy each time I heard the tale

wishing I had reached them, taught them 

the methods needed

to send these malevolent men to jail. 

By Lynn Hahn