During winter a Flower bloomed
White and pure just as you’d assume
She was told to keep her nectar to herself
As one day bees would be fighting over her stem
The tulip’s birthday party is where it begun
Everyone from the garden came around as one
As the night began to approach and the sun said goodbye
The smell of Flower’s nectar filled the sky
An older bee, uncle of the tulip
Invaded Flower’s petals before she was fully ready to open
Before she was fully ready to share her nectar with the world
The grimy insect’s legs felt over her fragile leaves
As the night grew older her petals began to dwindle
They began to shrivel and fall, torn away from its whole
As Flower left tulip’s house and the sun arose
She had one petal left that stood and shown
She never told anyone about that evil bee<
But it’s all she remembered for the rest of history
Author’s Note to Readers: I wrote this piece based off of a friend’s experience. In our conversation, she gave me permission to put what happened to her in an understandable form, without explicitly describing what occurred. That’s what drove me to write this. If you’ve experienced this before, I’m really sorry and hope it will get better. I hope this piece shows you that you are not alone.
Original artwork by Sanaa Dais, VOX Teen Staff
If you or a friend have been the victim of a sexual assault or rape, here are some resources that can help:
The Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault (GNESA)
DeKalb Rape Crisis Center (dekalbrapecrisiscenter.org/home.html), 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (404) 377-1428, Phone: (404) 377-1429
Mission: “DeKalb Rape Crisis Center (DRCC) provides direct services, prevention education, and advocacy for youth and adult survivors of sexual assault, their families and the community as a whole. DRCC helps survivors of sexual violence forge a new beginning, not only to survive their ordeal, but also to become strengthened by it. DRCC is the only agency in DeKalb County offering these services.”
Provides group and individual counseling for victims. This includes a teen support group, women support group, and a LGBTQ Victim to Survivor group. DRCC also provides legal advocacy, prevention education, and hospital accompaniment.
Grady Rape Crisis Center, 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (404) 616-4861
Counseling Hours: Mon. through Fri. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (by appointment)
About: “The Grady Rape Crisis Center is a comprehensive program providing crisis intervention, education, advocacy, consultation, information and referrals to sexually assaulted victims, their family, their friends and the community.”
Services include: 24 hour crisis hotline, community education, counseling services, emergency services, and referrals to medical treatment, counseling, legal support, advocacy, etc. Call hotline number if you are in need of services. Teens under 18 should note that if they come in for emergency or medical services they will be referred to Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital.
Southern Crescent Sexual Assault Center (scsacinc.wix.com/), 24-hour crisis line: (770) 477-2177,-Phone: (770) 603-4045 or (770) 507-7772
Mission Statement: “Our mission is to reduce the threat of sexual assault on a local, state and national level through prevention, intervention and education.”
All services are free to residents of Clayton, Henry, Fayette, Pike, Butts, Lamar, and Spalding Counties.
Services include: 24-hour crisis hotline, forensic medical examinations and evidence collection, medical accompaniment, legal accompaniment, victim advocacy, individual counseling, support groups, resource referral network, and child, youth, and adult education programs.
RAINN (Rape Abuse & Incest National Network) (rainn.org/), Phone: (800) 656-HOPE (4673)
Mission Statement: “RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization and was named one of “America’s 100 Best Charities” by Worth magazine. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE and online.rainn.org) in partnership with more than 1,100 local rape crisis centers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice.”
Website provides a variety of information on sexual assault from reducing your risk to statistics to state resources and recovering from sexual assault.
