There is something inside every human being that pushes us to empathize. Whether to use it to our own advantage or to just lend a helping hand, human will always need other humans. When it comes to victims of sexual assault, I realized my response time was faster when coming to their aid or defense. Crimes of absolute injustice where the sentencing rates are zero to none because victim shaming was easier than the paperwork and investigation that went into convicting the assailant. Yet it was never the victim's fault, and no one ever seemed to have told them.
I met Tiffany in the winter of my second year in the Army. She came in as expected of any new soldier- loud, bold, yet unbelievably humble. Her afro looked as if it held all of her life …show more content…
She had an emotional breakdown after a visibly intoxicated man had stumbled over to our car. We were heading out of the local market and the scent of liquor combined with the smell of vomit was wasting off him in waves as he attempted to make conversation. I automatically threw everything into the backseat before pulling Tiffany into the car and rushing her to pull off. My heart racing as quickly as the passing cars with scenarios of what may have happened flashing through my mind if I had moved a second slower. “That was weird,” she commented, successfully breaking the silence. The first I heard her talked since the confrontation. I was visibly shook but her comment had ceased the tremble in my body; my ears perked at the unsteady pace of her breathing and the break in her voice. This was out of character for anyone but Tiffany never panicked this way. Her brows had furrowed in attempts to stay focused on the road, but her hands seemed to be fighting to keep a grip on the steering wheel. “Tiffany,” I called. “Tiffany are you alright?” It was useless. Her breathing had gotten erratic at this point and fearing the worse, I managed to coax her into pulling over into a gas station. The need to ask if she was alright combined with the screams in my head to get her somewhere safe had overtaken all
I met Tiffany in the winter of my second year in the Army. She came in as expected of any new soldier- loud, bold, yet unbelievably humble. Her afro looked as if it held all of her life …show more content…
She had an emotional breakdown after a visibly intoxicated man had stumbled over to our car. We were heading out of the local market and the scent of liquor combined with the smell of vomit was wasting off him in waves as he attempted to make conversation. I automatically threw everything into the backseat before pulling Tiffany into the car and rushing her to pull off. My heart racing as quickly as the passing cars with scenarios of what may have happened flashing through my mind if I had moved a second slower. “That was weird,” she commented, successfully breaking the silence. The first I heard her talked since the confrontation. I was visibly shook but her comment had ceased the tremble in my body; my ears perked at the unsteady pace of her breathing and the break in her voice. This was out of character for anyone but Tiffany never panicked this way. Her brows had furrowed in attempts to stay focused on the road, but her hands seemed to be fighting to keep a grip on the steering wheel. “Tiffany,” I called. “Tiffany are you alright?” It was useless. Her breathing had gotten erratic at this point and fearing the worse, I managed to coax her into pulling over into a gas station. The need to ask if she was alright combined with the screams in my head to get her somewhere safe had overtaken all