“In June 2014, I was raped. However, it was not until the year 2017 that I admitted it to myself and began the process of coping. As a result of this newfound realization in 2017, negative emotions were developed and became detrimental to my overall well-being. As I repressed my emotions for those three years, I pretended that my life was normal; I thought that I would be able to embrace self-confidence and have the ability to develop romantic relationships with others again. To much of my dismay, I was wrong. 

When I admitted to myself that I was raped in 2017, I immediately tried to find a way of coping with my emotions, alone. I purchased the workbook, Ressurection After Rape, by Matt Atkinson, and completed half of the workbook. The workbook is still in my closet, and has not been touched since. That same year, I completed my thesis, Leading Survivors: Rape Victims becoming Leaders by Overcoming the Therapeutic Journey From Being a Rape Victim to a Rape Survivor” and it is my favorite academic piece up until this date. 

Although I was taking the initiative of tackling this journey by myself, I knew I needed assistance from an outside source. Thanks to a dear friend of mine, I began seeing a therapist in December 2019 who is helping me tremendously on this emotionally draining, yet self-reflecting journey. 

As I began talking to my therapist about my rape, she mentioned the idea of completing exercises to help cope with my emotions, in addition to providing me with guidance on how I can talk about them in general. 

That is where the letters come in. The following letters are two exercises that I completed while in therapy. Indeed, the letters are personal, however, I believe they exude empowerment and provide some insight to readers. The letters presented are to show readers that they are not alone! They, too, deserve love along with eternal happiness despite any shortcomings or plight they may have endured in their lives.”  

Written by: Victoria Rivera