If you really knew me, you would know that last March I was raped by my sister’s ex-boyfriend.
If you really knew the emotions going through my head, you would know that I was overcome with fear, disbelief and shock.
You would know that I told my cousin and a friend about it, but by the time they called the cops and tried to press charges it was too late—the man responsible got away with absolutely no punishment for his crime.
If you really knew how much being raped affected my life, you would know that it has changed everything.
You would know that it has affected what I do, where I am—I can no longer be around large groups of people anymore, people can’t touch me in certain places anymore—everything in my life was affected that night.
If you really knew how this experience has haunted me, you would know that I get flashbacks and anxiety regularly because of it.
If you really knew me, you would know that I wish people wouldn’t judge victims of sexual abuse or joke around about it.
You would know that I don’t see it as anything to joke about and I advise anyone in a similar situation to tell the authorities right away.
 

If you really knew me, you would know I am one of 2,600 Americans diagnosed with meningitis each year, according to the Human Illness website.
If you met me the summer of my fifth grade year, you might see me staying in the hospital for five days, getting a spinal tap or coping with meningitis for three weeks.
If you knew what I went through you would know meningitis affects your spine and brain and causes fever and headaches. Meningitis landed me in the emergency room. It was hard being in the hospital and not knowing what was going on.
If you really saw me today you would see that I still get mild headaches, but am no longer really affected by meningitis.
If you understand what I overcame you would know that between 260 and 520 people in the United States die from meningitis each year according to the Human Illness website.
If you saw how I live my life now you would see that I appreciate my ability to learn new things and my everyday life in school.

Story by Aly Johnson and Natalie Eppler