[Names have been changed]

I worked at Domino’s for over a year. The day I turned 18, I was promoted as an Assistant Manager. I was highly respected, despite my age. I transferred to another store who needed an Assistant Manager and immediately became best friends with everyone there. My employee’s knew when I was serious, when it was appropriate to get to work and when it was “fun” time. As my General Manager grew to learn that I was qualified for this position and that he could trust me with the store, he gave me many responsibilities which included dealing with the hiring process. As my time at my store came to an end because I was moving away for college, I looked for a Customer Service Representative (CSR) to train so she could help out in the store since I was leaving. I called Hannah, even though she was 17 and Domino’s doesn’t typically hire minors. I was in her position at 16 when I was looking for a job, even though I had little experience. So I called her in for an interview and I was very impressed and saw potential. I trained Hannah and shortly after I left.

I came home from college and on May 26, I got a text from one of my former employees, Brett. He asked how to handle a sexual assault situation. I immediately asked what happened, and found out it was the girl I had hired before I left for college. Since I was the person who hired her and that store will always be my store, I rushed to get the full story, talk to her about the situation and take her to the police station.

When I got there, I talked to the management who was already in the store and waited for Hannah to arrive. Once she got there and saw me, she immediately brightened up and hugged me. I told her I wanted to talk to her in the office. Once we got into the privacy of the office, I told her I was informed of what happened. I told her I dealt with a similar situation a month ago, plus three other times in my life, and that I understood how she was feeling. She was trying to laugh and be cheerful but I told her I knew that was a way of coping and it was okay. Her story made me really sad.

Hannah was sexually assaulted by one of the supervisors at the store. He is 32 and she is 17. He grew her trust by complimenting her and telling her how he was going to promote her to be an Assistant Manager. He told her that everyone in the store hated her and said bad things about her. This was his way to make her feel hated and that no one would support her after what he planned to do to her. They hung out one time and he didn’t try to do anything with her. She saw him as a friend which is understandable since Domino’s is a very close-knit family. Two days later, because she wasn’t feeling well, he brought her cough drops and coffee. They went on a drive to talk and then he pulled into a parking lot. She asked why they stopped and he said that he was tired of driving.

They talked for about 20 minutes before he tried anything. He started tickling her and used this as a way to get on top of her. Then he kissed her. She froze. She didn’t know what to do. He put his hands up her shirt and then pulled it off. He continued his assault and put his hands down her pants. And then she asked what time it was. He said 11. She told him she needed to get home and he said, “We have a few more minutes.” He continued assaulting her. He forced her hands down his pants and pushed her head down. She said no repeatedly. But, he kept pushing it. He finished inside her mouth.

Those were all of the details she gave me. But they were enough for me to know how she felt. I told her she needed to go to the police and that she wouldn’t get in trouble. I told her that I knew how scared she felt. She agreed after hearing I told her that, but she didn’t want to tell her mom. I suggested it a few more times and told her that her mom wouldn’t get mad (I was wrong about that.) But she didn’t want to tell her mom since she was a controlling person and Hannah was terrified of what her mom would do.

I took her to her house to get the clothes she wore that day—thank god she hadn’t washed them yet. I met her mother as well but respected Hannah’s wishes and didn't tell her mom. My friend, Katy— who had dealt with a similar situation a few years back—joined us as more support for Hannah. We went back and picked up the General Manager, Matt. Matt, Katy, Hannah and I went to the police station and told them why we were there.

It took a while before the two police officers who were going to handle her case arrived. Finally, they showed up and began the questioning. The officers told her since she was a minor, they had to contact her parents—specifically her mom. She broke down and said she couldn’t. She kept saying that and told them that she was almost 18. But, that didn't matter because she was still a minor.

The male officer called her mom. Hannah was in tears and was terrified. She didn’t want to tell to her mom. So, I went outside to wait for her mom so I could talk to her, tell her what to expect and let her know that Hannah needed support right now.

Her mom finally showed up and I approached her. I told her I didn’t want to make her feel ambushed so I said that I needed to talk to her before she went inside. I tried to tell her that Hannah was scared to tell her and that Hannah was hurting. She said in a harsh tone, "You should have told me when you were over at my house. I wasn't ambushed here. I was ambushed on the phone by the police."

I told her that I was respecting Hannah’s wishes and that I tried to push Hannah to tell her mom. But I could only push her to go to the police. I didn't want to push her anymore because it's already hard to even reach out to one person, let alone the police.

At this point, she cut me off and said, “Well, don’t you know how to handle rape victims?”

And I said, “Yes, I’m one myself.”

She was furious with me for not telling her what happened to Hannah. She said, “Exactly. So you should have told me.”

I replied, “It’s hard for victims to tell anyone, especially their parents.”

She asked how old I was and I told her I was 19. She then told me I should have known to tell her. I think she said that because I’m an adult, myself. I kept trying to say it was hard for victims and that I tried to push Hannah to tell her mom. She told me, “Well, Hannah tells me everything.” And I said, “I understand, but not with this situation.” She threw her hand up at me and ignored me. The entire time she was talking to me it was was in a loud, harsh tone. I understand why she was speaking like that but I wish she had been more open-minded.

When we got inside, Hannah's mom told Katy and I to go away. Hannah was in tears and holding onto Matt. She wouldn’t let go of him, but Katy and I had to outside, even though that was against Hannah's wishes. I broke down because of what Hannah’s mom said to me and because I could tell she was not going to support Hannah. About two minutes later, Matt joined us. He told us that Hannah left nail marks in his neck because she wouldn’t let go. She was too terrified.

About 20 minutes later, the male officer came out and told us we should leave because Hannah’s mom was not pleased with us. A minute later, Hannah and her mom came outside and her mom would not look at us. Hannah didn’t want us to leave. She was begging us to not leave. I could see the scared look in her eyes. As I watched her go, I started to tear up. I was scared for her. I could tell her mom was not happy with Hannah.

Hannah texted Katy and I later and she informed me that her mom was calling her immature and saying bad things about us. Her mom was extremely unsupportive.

Victims bottle up without support. I know how it feels. When I was raped, I told my Aunt Lori. All she said was that I should have left. My Aunt Cara told me I shouldn’t have put myself in that situation and that I should have stood my ground. My Aunt Kristina said, “That sucks, but it’s so common in society.” I tried to reach out to numerous people, and the only people who listened were Nate and his mom. I even tried to reach out to my Nana, and she told me she was concerned and she would call me. It’s been a week now, and she has yet to call. BUT she can post on Facebook. She'll even post on my wall. She even had the nerve to share my post about earning a 3.95 GPA for my freshmen year and added that she was a proud grandmother. Well, why hasn't she called me, her own granddaughter, when I told her I couldn't emotionally handle it anymore? Time needs to be made for situations like this.

It hurts when you feel unsupported, especially by your own family.

So friends and family of sexual assault and rape victims, please support your friend or family member. This situation is extremely difficult and it tears you down. I feel guilty; Hannah feels guilty; Katy felt disgusted and used after it happened to her years ago. It’s hard being a victim. You feel used, disgusted, guilty, ashamed and broken. You feel like you’ll get in trouble. You feel like no one will want you or believe you. You feel like you'll get slut-shamed. You feel like it's your fault and wonder what you could have done to avoid it.

But it's not the victims fault.

I know it’s hard to understand what a victim is dealing with when you haven't been in their shoes, but don’t try to blame them. Don’t question why they didn’t leave (sometimes victims shut down. I did. Hannah did. Katy was kicking and screaming but couldn’t breathe and felt hopeless.) It’s a scary and confusing situation. You don’t know what to feel. You feel depressed some days and other days you feel guilty. I constantly question myself. I still blame myself, even though I shouldn’t. Please support victims by giving them a shoulder to cry on and listen when they break down because it’s what they need in that moment and in the future.