What no one talks about is the fear. What's to guarantee the person we move on with won't be the same? 
I got lucky. Harold is nothing like that monster. He might have his own demons but he doesn't match the crimes. And it makes me a lunatic for overlooking his flaws of murder but I do. Because he is kind to me. He looks after me. 
I focus back on the stage when a different woman comes to stand on the stage. "I don't want to say the same things I'm sure everyone in the world has said to you, I'm here to say something else.
Everything you've went through was something no one deserves. Contrary to what most misogynists believe, no one wishes to be assaulted. No one asks for it, not in their choice of clothing, in their acts of drinking or smoking, or by being in a relationship. 
No one ever wants it. All we want is to feel safe, to feel loved and appreciated. I genuinely hope those feelings come to all of you soon enough if they haven't already. Because you deserve it. 
I'm not going to say it'll get any easier but I just want you to know you're brave enough to have come this far, and I know you're brave enough to go even farther." 
Now this girl gets it. I watch her step off the stage and make her way towards a small stall in a corner. She is quite short but she has an air about her. I wait until the closing ceremony to walk around the place.
There are a couple food stalls and drinks available but I stop at the one with the woman from before on it. "Hi!" She smiles. I smile back. "I liked your speech." I tell her. Her smile widens. 
"Thanks. I thought everyone knows the whole 'don't let it affect you stuff', I just wanted to say something different." 
"I'm glad you did. It sounded like you understood the pain better." Her eyes lower for a second. "I do. In some twisted way, I do." 
"I'm sorry." I say. "I know it won't help or fix anything, but I am sorry you had to go through it." She stares at me for a good minute. A long minute before smiling. "I'm sorry you had to go through it too." 
I blink. I didn't tell her, I told no one. I said absolutely nothing to anyone ever. It took this stranger a single minute to understand. 
Is it this easy to read me? Does Harold know too? Or is he oblivious the same way my parents have been for forever? 
I nod at the woman in acknowledgement before looking around at the stall. "Amm, what is all this?" She isn't selling anything like the other stalls. 
"Oh! I'm a board member of the charity that organised this. This is a donation booth. We cover the costs for every therapist and-" 
"I thought the therapist were volunteers?" 
"They are. But we hope to cover at least their cost of staying here. The charity also provides retreats and rehabilitation services for all assault victims. Not just sexual but also physical assaults. 
For people who need help starting a new life. We help them." 
"Can I donate?" I ask. This seems like a dream job for someone who came from where I did. I grew up with dreams like these. I wanted to make a change. Help someone, make a difference. 
I like to believe I did do something by becoming a therapist but it is not anywhere close to what this organisation does. "Of course." The woman smiles and pulls out a form. 
"We take checks and even online transfers. Can you tell me your name?" I blink. "Can I donate it anonymously?" 
She has a smiling face in general. She seems content with life. "You can. If you want I can keep your donation anonymous but I can also give you the slip acknowledging your donation and you can claim that in your taxes." I nod.