Marissa

Someone else pays for that.

And she said, no, unless you press charges, you have to pay for the rape kit out of pocket.

And I think for some reason, this is when a lot of everything hit me.

I became super upset.

I was trying so hard to do the right thing and do what I was told to do.

And I was a college student.

I couldn't fork up $4,000 for this.

I was beyond inconsolable at this point.

And she was so callous.

She was so just like, I'm sorry, it's the law.

And my friend is sitting there like,

Marissa, I know you don't have to pay for this.

I don't know why you don't, but I know that you don't.

And at this point, the victim advocate hadn't showed up to the hospital yet.

And my friend, Olivia, stepped out of the room and made a phone call.

And when she came back in, she said, I'm sorry, this is going to make me emotional, but I spoke with my dad and he said that he's going to pay for your rape kit and that you really need to get this done.

I have been so moved by that all these years later.

And it wasn't until later the victim advocate came and she told me that the state actually does pay for rape kits.

And that's something that I really want every victim to know that you are not responsible for a rape kit.

After that, the police showed up and they do an initial intake.