Braver Collective

Decades of “it wasn’t that bad.” Decades of “it was my fault.” Decades of “we were dating, so it wasn't really r**e.”

We bargain with the truth to simply survive.

When r**e happens within a relationship, the trauma is wrapped in a layer of profound confusion and doubt. We rewrite the story just to stay afloat because the truth is too heavy: the person who was supposed to be our safe space is the one who hurt us.

The anatomy of doubt is complex. It is reinforced by a culture that tells us “no” doesn’t count if you’ve already said “yes” a thousand times before.

Healing means realizing that “love” is never a substitute for consent. It means deconstructing the lie that intimacy gives someone else ownership over your own body.

It means realizing it was r**e. It wasn’t our fault. And it was that bad.

🔗 Click to read “Decades of Doubt” by Stephanie Beth Brescia: https://bravercollective.org/stories/decades-of-doubt

Stephanie (she/her) is a writer from the Midwest who focuses on poetry and creative nonfiction. After staying silent for thirty-two years, she started writing to finally put words to the feelings she couldn't explain. She writes to help herself heal, but also to let other survivors know they aren't alone. She knows how helpful it is to hear someone else say exactly what you’ve been thinking, and she hopes her words provide that same comfort to others.