Every Survivor Deserves a David

This guy. We met at Peace Corps HQ in 2010. Him, the Security Specialist. Me, the Peace Corps Volunteer who was medically evacuated after a man chose to violently rape me.  

We took road trips to Norfolk for trials, with the unofficial uniform of a grey hoodie and jeans. He listened as I cried when I felt completely violated by a judicial system. He got upset when I felt numb & empty after we left the court room. The next day, we had coffee with the prosecution team discussing next steps.

For me, my next steps were stability, healing, and normalcy. I can't imagine the last 7 years without this guy. He's picked me up from the metro so I can have dinner with him and his family. After I started at HQ, we would get lunch and discuss my latest failed romance. We laughed after I put his head on a graphic of super heroes for a work event poster. 

David is a solid human being who I am proud to say is also my friend. This was our last week of working together after 5 years, and yes, both of us shared that look that another chapter has ended and we got a little sad. Each time we talk about “One of Us” or the events within its pages, he says “Sandi, I see who you are now and not as the individual from back then.” 

Every survivor deserves to have a David in their life. We deserve individuals who believe in us, encourage us through thick and thin, and see us for who we have grown to become.

Thank you, David, for giving me hope in humanity :-)