“A lot of victims or survivors, they want to go back to being normal. I just wanted to be treated normal. I didn't want special exceptions. I didn't want people to be scared to be my friend to avoid me because they don't know how I'm going to react. I always felt, like, Jeez, I survived nine months of hell, I hardly think that something you're going to say to me is going to break me.”
— Elizabeth Smart as transcribed by Molly Oswaks, Elizabeth Smart Is Standing Up for Rape Victims—And Tearing Down Purity Culture | Broadly
More from Elizabeth Smart
“But those with shattered souls find it very difficult to speak.”
“Sleep tries to seduce me by promising a more reasonable tomorrow.”
“People need to realize there is nothing that can detract from your worth. When it comes to…”