When Me’shelle arrived at school, there was a message waiting for her to call a number at Jacobi Hospital. When she spoke with the nurse, she was told that the night before, the police brought in a young woman. She was found wandering the streets wearing only a black T-shirt and socks. Cold chills ran through Me’shelle’s body as she asked the young woman’s name. She knew it could only be Brandy.
“That’s just it, Ms. Lawrence. She wouldn’t tell us or the police her name. She’s in shock, and she’s been talking with the counselor this morning. She was able to get your name and number out of her, but not much else.”
Me’shelle left school immediately and went to the hospital. The doctor on duty told Me’shelle that Brandy had been raped and she was still in shock. They allowed Me’shelle to see her, but only for a while, as Brandy had become very agitated and had to be sedated.
She sat at Brandy’s bedside, crying while she held her hand until the nurses forced her to leave. When Me’shelle came out of the room, two officers and the rape counselor were waiting to talk to her.
They sat and questioned a tearful Me’shelle for about half an hour, but there wasn’t much she could tell them.
“What relation are you to the victim?” the officers asked.
“I’m her aunt. Her father is my brother. Have you called her parents?” Me’shelle asked.
“No, ma’am. Yours was the only name I could get out of her in the state she’s in,” the counselor said.
“Can you give us the address and phone number of her parents?” the officer asked politely.
Me’shelle gave the police the information they requested and one went to try to call the house. Meanwhile, the counselor continued to ask Me’shelle questions she could not answer. When the officer returned, he informed Me’shelle that there was no answer at that number. They were getting off their shift, but had called in to have a car sent over to Bruce’s house.
When the doctor returned to check on Brandy, the counselor went back in with her. Me’shelle went to the pay phone to call her aunt. Miranda was horrified, but not surprised by the news. Me’shelle began to cry once again and Miranda tried in vain to calm her down. She promised to call Juanita, then they would come to the hospital. Then Me’shelle called Travis, but she got no answer.
Me’shelle sat restlessly outside Brandy’s room until the doctor and counselor came out. Before continuing her rounds, the doctor assured Me’shelle that Brandy was going to be fine physically. “But she may complain of a general soreness and aches throughout her body. She may also complain of pain in the specific areas of the body that were targeted during the assault. These pains may be the result of actual physical trauma, or may be a psychosomatic response. Both reasons are equally valid and real. We’ll keep her under observation for a while, but your niece is going to be fine. However, I strongly recommended that you talk with the counselor about what she could expect next.”
“Hi,” the counselor said as the doctor walked away. “I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself. My name is Judith Franklin, and as the doctor said, I’m a rape counselor.”
“Me’shelle Lawrence,” she said and held out her hand.
“How are you feeling?” Judith asked, giving her a hug.
“I’m all right,” Me’shelle assured her. The truth was that she blamed herself for not doing more to get Brandy out of that environment. She thought about all the times she’d threatened to pack Brandy’s things and take her away from Bruce and Natalie, but never did.
“I’m going to assume that since you were the only person Brandy would tell us about that the two of you are close.”
“Yes, we are,” Me’shelle said quietly.
“I think it will be very helpful to Brandy for you to play an important role in her recovery.”
“I will. I’ll be there for her no matter what.” It was a commitment Me’shelle made to herself.
“I’m glad to hear you say that,” Judith said with a reassuring smile that seemed to have a calming effect on Me’shelle. She and Me’shelle sat down and Judith continued. “I want to take a minute to talk to you about some of the things that you can expect with Brandy.”
“Okay, Ms. Franklin.”
“Please, call me Judith.”
“Judith it is. And please, call me Me’shelle.”
“The first and most important thing, Me’shelle, is that although every survivor’s experience will be unique, many will have one thing in common: Rape Trauma Syndrome, or a cluster of emotional responses to the extreme stress experienced during the sexual assault. More specifically, it’s a response to the profound fear of death that almost all survivors experience during an assault.”
“I can’t even imagine what that must feel like or what she’s going through.”
“Well, the trauma that Brandy is experiencing generally occurs in two phases: the acute or initial phase, which usually lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after the assault, and the reorganization phase, which can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months after the assault. Often, the end of the acute phase will overlap the beginning of the reorganization phase. Each phase is characterized by particular emotional and physical concerns that most survivors experience.”
“Like what?”
“In the acute phase, the survivor experiences a complete disruption of her life, responding to the fear of death she experienced. Survivors may display any of a number of contrasting emotional responses. A survivor may cry, shout, swear, or she may laugh nervously, which is called expressed style. Or as in Brandy’s case, sit calmly or be silent, which is controlled style.”
“Which one is better?”
“No response is inappropriate,” Judith said passionately. “Brandy may exhibit characteristics of both styles. Responses vary depending on any one of a number of external and experiential circumstances. Any emotion is appropriate because everyone has their own unique way of responding to events in their life.”
“What can I do to help her?”
“Just be there for her. Right now, Brandy’s initial response to the assault may be shock and disbelief. Many survivors may appear numb.”
“That’s what scares me. I’ve never seen her like that. Brandy is always so lively. Now she looks so distant.”
“That’s not inappropriate behavior. Actually, this response might provide an emotional “time-out,” so to speak. It could be a time for her to acknowledge and begin to process the experience. If the assault was particularly brutal, Brandy may experience an extreme shock response and completely block out the assault.”
“I know that can’t be good for her.”
“No, it’s not, but it’s something she may experience, and you have to be prepared to deal with it. Following the shock and disbelief most survivors initially experience, they may experience a variety of emotions. Brandy may feel angry, afraid, or lucky to be alive. She may feel humiliated, sad, confused, vengeful, or degraded and dirty. She may begin washing compulsively, particularly in the lower body, in response to feeling dirty. All of these responses are normal.”
“And these feelings, how can I help her deal with them without invalidating them?”
“Whatever a survivor is feeling is valid because they’re feeling it. It is how they express their reaction to assault.”
“Is there anything else that I can expect?”
“You may notice disruptions in her usual sleeping and eating patterns. Brandy may not be able to eat or sleep, or may eat more than usual and be unable to stay awake.”
“Should I sleep near her to let her know I’m there? I mean, she may have a horrible nightmare and wake up hysterical. She may even think that her assailant is there and just leave. Then what?”
“Survivors may report nightmares in which they relive the assault. Sexual assault is such a traumatic event that the survivor may dream about it in some way throughout her life. Oh my, look at the time,” Judith said when she glanced at her watch. “I have got to get going.” She stood up.
“Thank you for all of the information, Judith.”
“You’re welcome, Me’shelle. I hope that it’s helpful to you and your family. What Brandy needs most now is love and support. With that and time, I believe she’ll be fine,” Judith said and handed Me’shelle a card. “Please call me when she’s able to talk, or have one of the nurses contact me. And if you have any questions or I can help in any way, just let me know.”
“I will,” Me’shelle answered as the counselor walked away. She went into the room to check on Brandy, who was sleeping peacefully. Me’shelle made a commitment to herself that no matter what Bruce and Natalie had to say about it, Brandy was coming home with her. She had stood by too long and allowed too much to happen. It had to stop, and it had to stop now. After she checked on Brandy, Me’shelle went to call Travis.