Page 29 of Because of Dylan

We will counsel. We will help you.

All sessions are hosted by trained

medical professionals.

100% anonymous.

100% free.

More information on the website below.

I close the folder and put it in my backpack. Turmoil takes residence in my head. I can’t wait to get back to my dorm and go to the website. I need to find out more about this program. The multitude of thoughts in my mind is reaching Defcon one status. It takes a ridiculous amount of concentration to accomplish the most menial of tasks. Thank goodness all I’m doing today is entering some paperwork into the computer and nothing requiring any kind of real thinking.

Vibration alerts me to a text. I glance at the screen and find a message from River.

River: Food?

Becca: I can’t. I have a lot to do.

My stomach is flipping inside out. There’s no way I can eat anything.

River: But you still have to eat.

Becca: Sorry. Can’t. Breakfast tomorrow?

River: Okay… :(

I turn the phone facedown on the desk.

My gaze keeps finding my bag. The folder and pink sheets peeking from behind the half-open zipper taunt me. I check the time again. The minutes tick away with the eagerness of a sloth. A hibernating sloth. A hibernating sloth in slow motion and going backward.

I need this day to end.

Chapter Thirteen

My fingers tremblewhen I type in the URL for the anonymous sexual assault survivor web page. I double-check the address on the flier again and hit enter. A second later the page loads.

The page lists statistics and some generic information I’ve read online before.

It’s simple. White with pink and purple accents. And a box to create an anonymous login.

Not even an email is needed. The website hosts a mailbox that’s accessible when you log in.

They say it’s one hundred percent anonymous. But I’m still nervous about it. I close the window. Then clean the cached information for good measure and close the browser.

My heart is speeding. Could they really help me? Could they get me off the track of self-destruction I’m in?

I open the browser again and go incognito. Type the URL one more time. Read the entire page, make sure I’m not missing anything.

My lungs expand with a deep breath. My hands shake. I can do this. I can talk to someone. They’ll never know it’s me. I push the heel of my hand into my chest, massage it, try to dislodge the building anxiety. I’ve never talked to anyone about any of this before.

It’s time.

I release a purposeful breath.

Username. Okay. What can I use for a username? Something that won’t identify me and I can easily remember. A nervous laugh escapes when I think of it.

USERNAME:Cougar22

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