Just Listen

Content Warning: This section includes depictions of sexual assault.

About six months earlier, Annabel attended an end-of-the-school-year house party. She arrived late after dinner drama with Whitney, who barely ate her salad and none of her chicken. After making sure her mom was calm after Whitney’s outburst, Annabel found Emily and Sophie at the party. While Emily was in a good mood, Sophie was moody and upset due to a recent fight with Will. Annabel and Emily scout the party, grabbing beer and playing pool with Nick and Michael, senior boys they knew from school.

When Annabel left to find water for Nick, who was a little too drunk, she heard someone call her name from a bedroom. She stepped inside, thinking Nick moved. Someone grabbed her wrists, and she couldn’t find the light. The guy said, “Shh, Annabel. It’s just me,” and pulled her into the room (263). She told him to stop, but he clamped his hand over her screams and then sexually assaulted her. While Annabel struggled, he threw her down, pinning her with his arms. In a daze, Annabel was raped by her attacker, who turned out to be Will, but she couldn’t tell in the dark.