I am a female who’s a few days away from being 18. I am terrified.

I’m scared to go to college because of the sexual assault problem on our campuses.

I’m scared to go to a bar or club someday because I don’t want to be drugged like how I’ve been my mom be drugged, come home, and almost die. That was only one time out of multiple that she was drugged.

I’m scared to work or go outside because of sexual harassment.

I’m scared that someday birth control or abortion may not be available to me when I need it.

I’m scared that my rapist get to walk free despite them admitting to hurting me.

I’m scared as each day I see my rights being plucked away one by one.

I’m scared that my daughters may have to deal with these injustices in a land we call “free”

Each day I wish I could cling onto the cloth of time that’s being ripped out from under my feet. So many women I know personally or who’s stories I’ve only read have dealt with things I never want to face. The stories of my mom being horribly drugged, raped, harassed, abused, and ignored by the law. My grandma being raped and drugged over 11 times and having to defend a friend in court as the jury said it was her friend’s fault for getting raped because she slept naked in her own bedroom. It seems like every women I’ve ever met has dealt with crimes against women’s rights. Maybe I wouldn’t be so afraid if I didn’t see my fellow sisters in Ohio and Georgia having their rights stripped away... but I’m losing faith.