Patience

I was 14, it was Halloween, and we were outside at a party. The boy next to me, probably 16 or 17, had his arms wrapped around me and his hand on my upper thigh.

I wanted him to stop and I had tried to move, but he wouldn’t move and I had been told he was “handsy” anyway. I didn’t know what to do, part of me thought this was normal, this must be a compliment, or just part of his personality; something women just have to deal with.

A friend told him to stop and he simply said “No, she’s fine with it. I’m cold anyway,” without asking if I really was fine with it. I tried to move again and he returned again with his hand moving to my inner thigh. No one tried to help me after that, everyone turned their heads and looked away.