I don’t blame the guy for going public and seeking a little reflected glory for his actions, but it wasn’t wise. The police went to his shack at the back of his mother’s house and arrested him there. About a week later, they phoned and told me his DNA was a perfect match to the evidence collected in the rape kit.

I am so excited! After all this time, a solid arrest for my rape. I can’t tell you what it means to me. It even made up for that awful evening with Moira. Any social occasion that ends with one person locked in the bathroom sobbing her eyes out while the other one hammers on the door and begs to be let in cannot be described as a success.

I’ll admit I let those comments on my Cinder profile upset me even after I promised Moira I wouldn’t. And, yes, I know that the internet is a deeply misogynistic place, and that the comments on Cinder are about as bad as you can get, and that I really shouldn’t have let them get to me. But, what can I say? I’m weak. Being showered with hateful bile bothers me.

One way or another, the news about the arrest was just what I needed to pull me out of the misery I was wallowing in after the weekend.

I went to see my shrink, because that’s what you do when you’re a rape victim and something huge happens in your life.

L. BASCOMBE: They caught one of them? Really?

ME: Yes! It was even on the news. Didn’t you see it?

L. BASCOMBE: I saw something about the arrest of a suspected rapist, but I didn’t know it was your case they were talking about. Well, well, well.

ME: I didn’t think this day would come.

L. BASCOMBE: Nor did I. So, this means it was all true then? You really were raped?

ME: I really was. You didn’t believe me? I always felt that you doubted me.

L. BASCOMBE: It’s not a likely story, is it? I thought you might have made up the bit about being raped to cover the fact that you had invited those men in to have sex. You were wearing a skimpy top, after all. You have to admit that’s provocative.

ME: But now you know it was true.

L. BASCOMBE: Yes. The police wouldn’t arrest someone for no reason. It must be true.

ME: So now I get to move on. I’ve been waiting two years for the chance to move on. It’s very exciting.

L. BASCOMBE: But first you have to get through the trial. You are going to have to be very brave.

ME: Yes. I feel brave and empowered. I’m going to work with the criminal justice system to bring my rapist to book!