Andrea Gunning

I could tell.

It was a lot for Saskia.

She looked tired, and she couldn't seem to sit still in her chair.

But in the midst of all of this, I heard something.

Saskia's laugh.

It was mentioned a lot in interviews with her friends and family.

But this was the first time we really heard it for ourselves.

And throughout the night, we kept hearing it.

There's no clean end to the journey Saskia's on.

She'll never reach a point when she's fully healed.

No one does after betrayal.

I think healing is a series of smaller wins.

Maybe there will come a day when she'll wake up without her trauma on her mind.

Maybe she'll call her sister or a friend the next time she feels alone.

But for now, just having moments like this again, when she can just be with the people that love her and laugh, that's enough.

For resources on sexual violence, visit rainn.org slash betrayal.

That's R-A-I-N-N dot org slash betrayal.

You can also get free confidential 24-7 support through RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline.

Just text HOPE to 64673 or call 1-800-656-HOPE.

You are not alone.