I was inappropriately touched by a farm worker when I was six. (It was my family’s farm.) I only vaguely remember the incident (including the memory of an awful burning sensation between my legs) but I am in no doubt as to whether or not it happened – it happened. Years later, I vocalized this to a male relative. The response? ‘You sure you eh imagine that?’
When I visit the village in which I grew up, I still see the perpetrator of my loss of sexual innocence…just hanging around. He looked me in the face and smiled the last time I saw him in the street. My entire body stiffened like I’d been slapped.
I don’t think he remembers what he did. I suspect he’s done it to other girls, many times before. I wonder if they were told it was all in their heads, too?
– Mara.