As new Epstein files drop, a survivor shares her story; raw, moving, indelible. An exclusive account of abuse & cover-ups. A reminder: behind each Epstein headline, a lifetime of trauma.
And it goes on. I have a story too. Not as brutal, but still awful and in a time, there was no use telling the police. Look how the current occupant of the WH speaks about and to women.
ANY violation is brutal. It's absolutely shocking and appalling how many women have stories. Something has got to change, on a fundamental societal level. I look at my daughters and I want to protect them forever, all of our daughters. And so I raise my sons to respect and recognize consent (true consent is enthusiastic, every time) in hopes that the mothers of other sons are teaching them the same so our daughters are ALL safer.
“With the passage of the bill to release the Epstein files, the most humiliating, painful moments of those women’s lives is about to be on full display…. In sisterhood and solidarity, I open my heart to you.”
Oh, my sweet girl. Yes, you were just a girl then, and part of you is still that scared girl. I want to hold you and comfort you and tell you …
What I want to tell that girl, and all the girls this kind of thing happens to, is yes, this was painful, but NO to humiliation. The only people who should be humiliated are the people who did this to you. Chad, his frat bros, and the girls who laughed. THEY are the ones who should be humiliated. You can hold your head high because you are blameless.
I am so happy you have healed enough to find peace and love.
Those people, the ones who are truly humiliated whether or not they admit it to themselves, will have to live for the rest of their lives with the knowledge of what they did. They may never face justice in the legal system, but they KNOW.
And for that reason, you are free, and they can never be.
What courage it took to tell your story. I and countless other women thank you for that. I am sorry for what you had to go through, but you are using your pain to bring light to the world. Thank you.
Only other victims can really appreciate the courage it took to share this story and I don't know how to change that. And I have so much respect for all victims who share their stories, even when they don't go into as much detail as this. "Just" to say I was victimized and it really messed up my life" can take a huge amount of courage and I hope that the publicity the epstein files are giving to victims helps more non victims to understand that victims get a life sentence of all kinds of bad things...insecurity, feeling it was their fault, feeling dirty, have huge difficulty ever trusting anyone again...the list is long....while perpetrators get off scot free. It's time we as a society immediately believe the victim and demand the perp prove his/her innocence.
I am so sorry you went through that. I can’t imagine….My husband was sexually abused by his mother as a kid, and I know what it has done to him. You didn’t deserve that and damn those girls for laughing at you. You were just a kid. Sending you hugs. I’m so glad that you climbed your way out of that. Take care❤️
What's needed for people like this is a vigilante that victims can turn to who will track them down one by one and beat the living crap out of them. Sorry, I know that's a barbaric response, but the thought that people can do things like that and go free makes my blood boil.
Because you know it wasn’t only one time. They participate in a segment of society that gets off on cruelty to others — whatever form that cruelty may take, and if in more ways than one? Then all the better for those sick fucks. May they all rot in eternal, painful hell.
thank gd there was no hiv or pregnancy. i too have a story , not as brutal, but even younger. the girls laughing really hit me. i have never been a fan of frat boys. they disgust me. but those girls. one expects more empathy. i am so thrilled that your strength has given you a good life . with many blessings. it is a tragedy that we can't trust other humans to care for us.
Women can be worse than men if only for the “betrayal” aspect of the interaction. It boggles the mind how one can participate in the suffering of another human being, much less another woman.
So glad you’ve found peace. Such a painful story, but as others have said, you have nothing to be ashamed of, although society doesn’t understand that.
This account is absolutely devastating. No girl, no woman should ever have to endure what she did. I am glad that Melissa has come through it all to find happiness; I'm sure it was a difficult journey.
Thank you Melissa for telling us these aspects of your experience -- so hard, so unfair, so calouse and so inhumane. and dependent on dishonest drugging of a person, and getting fucked up so the perpetrator and accomplises can dull their humantiy suffieciently.
I especially welcome that you have been able to claim and enjoy your rich life. I appreciate you. I celebrate you. Expose the bastards and take brilliant care of yourself and you family.
Really. You can find out who he is, and let people know what he was doing then. but only if there;s a way to do it and not get yourself hurt.
I am so sorry that happened to you. I started crying while I read it. It was truly disgusting on so many levels, Chad, frat brats, and sorority shits. Sadly there are other women that have been raped
What has not changed in all the generations of women is the implicit freedom, even expectation, that men can and should try to dominate women in some way, professionally if not sexually, socially if not sexually, personally if not sexually. That makes every woman or girl a target of some kind because she is female. Because her life counts for less, her work counts for less, her existence counts for less. I urge all girls to learn to care for themselves in ways not always encouraged: self-defense, education, social awareness and social toughness. I learned that the hard way but never suffered as you did. I wasn't smarter, just lucky.
After a teenage male relative had me give him a hand job when I was in grade school, I experienced multiple sexual assaults in dating, stranger or coworker situations that I didn't want but it seemed like I couldn't stop-as if I had no right to refuse-between the ages of 17-25. After the first intercourse I was also terrified that I was pregnant and broke up with him-later mutual friends told me he bragged about "riding" me. I still can't believe more women haven't been sexually assaulted because it is so socially acceptable
The perpetrators in your recounting are the worst elements of humanity. Their cruelty and brutality is appalling. But the courage and strength you found to reclaim yourself and find some peace is inspirational.
Being a survivor isn’t just about enduring pain… it’s about rebuilding, resisting, and rising. Every survivor’s story, every victim’s journey, is a testament to courage. And no one should have to heal alone. 💞🕊️🦋💞
“Your pain is valid, your strength is undeniable, and your voice matters 💞🕊️🦋💞
And it goes on. I have a story too. Not as brutal, but still awful and in a time, there was no use telling the police. Look how the current occupant of the WH speaks about and to women.
ANY violation is brutal. It's absolutely shocking and appalling how many women have stories. Something has got to change, on a fundamental societal level. I look at my daughters and I want to protect them forever, all of our daughters. And so I raise my sons to respect and recognize consent (true consent is enthusiastic, every time) in hopes that the mothers of other sons are teaching them the same so our daughters are ALL safer.
I was 19, too. 77 now. Lifelong impact. Complicated - so complicated!!! Sorry for you and all the others…and me!
“With the passage of the bill to release the Epstein files, the most humiliating, painful moments of those women’s lives is about to be on full display…. In sisterhood and solidarity, I open my heart to you.”
Oh, my sweet girl. Yes, you were just a girl then, and part of you is still that scared girl. I want to hold you and comfort you and tell you …
What I want to tell that girl, and all the girls this kind of thing happens to, is yes, this was painful, but NO to humiliation. The only people who should be humiliated are the people who did this to you. Chad, his frat bros, and the girls who laughed. THEY are the ones who should be humiliated. You can hold your head high because you are blameless.
I am so happy you have healed enough to find peace and love.
Those people, the ones who are truly humiliated whether or not they admit it to themselves, will have to live for the rest of their lives with the knowledge of what they did. They may never face justice in the legal system, but they KNOW.
And for that reason, you are free, and they can never be.
What courage it took to tell your story. I and countless other women thank you for that. I am sorry for what you had to go through, but you are using your pain to bring light to the world. Thank you.
Only other victims can really appreciate the courage it took to share this story and I don't know how to change that. And I have so much respect for all victims who share their stories, even when they don't go into as much detail as this. "Just" to say I was victimized and it really messed up my life" can take a huge amount of courage and I hope that the publicity the epstein files are giving to victims helps more non victims to understand that victims get a life sentence of all kinds of bad things...insecurity, feeling it was their fault, feeling dirty, have huge difficulty ever trusting anyone again...the list is long....while perpetrators get off scot free. It's time we as a society immediately believe the victim and demand the perp prove his/her innocence.
I am so sorry you went through that. I can’t imagine….My husband was sexually abused by his mother as a kid, and I know what it has done to him. You didn’t deserve that and damn those girls for laughing at you. You were just a kid. Sending you hugs. I’m so glad that you climbed your way out of that. Take care❤️
I am so sorry for your betrayal.
What's needed for people like this is a vigilante that victims can turn to who will track them down one by one and beat the living crap out of them. Sorry, I know that's a barbaric response, but the thought that people can do things like that and go free makes my blood boil.
Because you know it wasn’t only one time. They participate in a segment of society that gets off on cruelty to others — whatever form that cruelty may take, and if in more ways than one? Then all the better for those sick fucks. May they all rot in eternal, painful hell.
Yep, instead of beating the crap out of them they should be slowly and painfully tortured.
I agree with that one, Helena
thank gd there was no hiv or pregnancy. i too have a story , not as brutal, but even younger. the girls laughing really hit me. i have never been a fan of frat boys. they disgust me. but those girls. one expects more empathy. i am so thrilled that your strength has given you a good life . with many blessings. it is a tragedy that we can't trust other humans to care for us.
Women can be worse than men if only for the “betrayal” aspect of the interaction. It boggles the mind how one can participate in the suffering of another human being, much less another woman.
I'm so sorry for what happened to you. And happy that you recovered enough to now lead a good and rewarding life.
Bless your hubby.❤️
So glad you’ve found peace. Such a painful story, but as others have said, you have nothing to be ashamed of, although society doesn’t understand that.
You are so brave.
This account is absolutely devastating. No girl, no woman should ever have to endure what she did. I am glad that Melissa has come through it all to find happiness; I'm sure it was a difficult journey.
Powerful.
Thank you Melissa for telling us these aspects of your experience -- so hard, so unfair, so calouse and so inhumane. and dependent on dishonest drugging of a person, and getting fucked up so the perpetrator and accomplises can dull their humantiy suffieciently.
I especially welcome that you have been able to claim and enjoy your rich life. I appreciate you. I celebrate you. Expose the bastards and take brilliant care of yourself and you family.
Really. You can find out who he is, and let people know what he was doing then. but only if there;s a way to do it and not get yourself hurt.
I am so sorry that happened to you. I started crying while I read it. It was truly disgusting on so many levels, Chad, frat brats, and sorority shits. Sadly there are other women that have been raped
What has not changed in all the generations of women is the implicit freedom, even expectation, that men can and should try to dominate women in some way, professionally if not sexually, socially if not sexually, personally if not sexually. That makes every woman or girl a target of some kind because she is female. Because her life counts for less, her work counts for less, her existence counts for less. I urge all girls to learn to care for themselves in ways not always encouraged: self-defense, education, social awareness and social toughness. I learned that the hard way but never suffered as you did. I wasn't smarter, just lucky.
After a teenage male relative had me give him a hand job when I was in grade school, I experienced multiple sexual assaults in dating, stranger or coworker situations that I didn't want but it seemed like I couldn't stop-as if I had no right to refuse-between the ages of 17-25. After the first intercourse I was also terrified that I was pregnant and broke up with him-later mutual friends told me he bragged about "riding" me. I still can't believe more women haven't been sexually assaulted because it is so socially acceptable
The perpetrators in your recounting are the worst elements of humanity. Their cruelty and brutality is appalling. But the courage and strength you found to reclaim yourself and find some peace is inspirational.
Being a survivor isn’t just about enduring pain… it’s about rebuilding, resisting, and rising. Every survivor’s story, every victim’s journey, is a testament to courage. And no one should have to heal alone. 💞🕊️🦋💞
“Your pain is valid, your strength is undeniable, and your voice matters 💞🕊️🦋💞