2 years ago, aged 14, I was groomed by an 18year old who told me the first time we met that he was 15, then he kept changing his age as the assault carried on. It turned from a kiss (which was a dare) to him not talking to me because I didn’t want to have sex. I remember perfectly each time we met and the events that occurred. Still to this day it makes me feel sick knowing what I had gone through and knowing his family still lives in the same town as me. At aged 16, present, I still don’t know how to control the guilt and disgust I feel whenever I think about what his did to me. I can still feel him touching me or his words that he said to me.

Any advice on how to over come these dreadful events?

I remember I was told by most of my own family members that it was my fault and to stop “fucking around with lads”. I still feel as if it were my fault! Some days I’ll be on top of the world with not a care and the next I feel myself drowning in the regret and insecurities. He took everything from me. I now have decided that I am waiting until after marriage to have sex as that is the only thing he couldn’t take away from me! I’m not sure if that’s a step in the right direction, but I would be internally grateful if anyone can help me take the next steps into getting better.

Sorry for such a long post x