I graduated from a private prep school in Connecticut with 38 people in my graduating class.

I learned quickly that money can make anything go away from bad grades, to rape. I was taught that “If you have a problem you throw money at it. If it doesn’t work, you throw more.”

You’re disciplined, as a woman, to wipe your tears before they even hit your cheek out of respect for your family in saving them from embarrassment. No one wants to be a disappointment.

You’re ordered, as a man, to hold your head up high – keeping your straight face as hard as rock like a thick shield carved from Earth’s mantle. Act like nothing happened to protect yourself.

Can you think of a moment where you didn’t want to stay quiet? A split second that you wanted to speak out and stop something dead in its tracks. Think.

What happened?

How did you feel then?

...

How do you feel now?

I believe that it is a necessity to speak up and show out for those who want to appear invisible and disappear into our society, those who have not yet discovered the consequences of silence.

For others. For themselves.

Fear should not hold anyone back from using their voice, but instead further our courage to axe the nightmare.

I write the unmentionables.