And it has never occurred to me that we may be more powerful if we stopped fighting each other, and started working together. Not as different races or different ages or different income backgrounds or education levels.

But as girls.

Women.

Us.

I know that was a long story to get to my question, but I didn’t know how to ask it without the context. You can edit it out.

My question is—now that my perspective has shifted—what can I do to fight the bigger battle? The girl and I have already made peace. I’m shocked at how long we talked after the assault…how much we had always wanted to say to each other and never did because we were scared of each other.

I want to help other girls figure this out.

I want to inspire girls to stand up for each other and lift each other up as opposed to tearing them down.

It’s a hurdle, I know. A fucking big one.

But we have to change.

We have to.

Or else our future will be exactly the same as the women who came before us.

So, any ideas on how I can do this? How I can help create change? You already took your stand, but I’m not a blogger. What can I do?”

I can’t tell you how long it took me to get my fingers on this keyboard after reading your story. I’ve finally wiped the tears off my face and I’m ready to connect with you. How could I not post your story in its entirety? I would never dare to edit your words, and maybe that is a huge problem in our society—too much editing. With filters or sugarcoated words or authority figures sweeping tragedies under the rug…it all ends with us getting hurt. Because there aren’t enough stories like yours told.

I’ve also experienced something similar.

I hate to think of how many people can say the same thing, and yet, it’s one of the reasons I started this blog. Because I was tired of the patriarchy telling us how to feel about what happens to us, to our bodies. Telling us how to dress, to smile more, to go into certain career fields and not others. It’s completely unfair and I’m so damn tired of it.

You are, too.

Not only that, you’ve dug in to the real deep and gritty darkness of the relationships between girls and between women. Despite race, we, as women, have a tendency to claw each other down when we should be building each other ladders.

I’m in total agreement and awe of you. Your honest and raw story has brought light to my eyes. There are girls here at my own school who I clash with for numerous reasons…and now I’m left wondering why?