During my second year of university, my friend and I decided that we wanted to go to a party that was being held at my previous student accommodation, but we didn’t stay where that party was being held, meaning we didn’t have tickets in. So, I texted a classmate I knew still stayed there and asked if he would be able to get us in. He agreed and I informed my friend. We were both excited. I was in my room alone and suddenly I wasn’t excited anymore. Something kept telling me not to go to this party. I’m not one who usually attends parties or clubs so a part of me thought that was why I was second guessing the party. The feeling persisted but I didn’t want to have to tell my friend that I was no longer going, so I chose an outfit and my friend and I went to the location.
With the help of my male classmate, we were able to get into the first location, we drank and sang along to the songs being played. Eventually the apprehensive feeling/voice disappeared. We then moved to the venue that wanted tickets (my former student accommodation), we weren’t able to enter and for a short period my friend suggested leaving and going home. That’s when I saw the building manager talking to residents who didn’t have any tickets. I guess she remembered my face from the previous year and so my friend and I got tickets and were able to enter.
We found a nice corner, resumed our drinking, a few guys came over with a humbly (smoking pipe), and we joined them in smoking it. It belonged to the classmate who got us into the first location, and there was weed inside the pipe. The combination of the weed and alcohol made me numb. I was sitting but barely feeling anything around me. I became sleepy and my classmate offered up his room for me to sleep in until my friend is ready to leave. I remember him walking me to his room, I thought he’d open the room and leave, but no. He went in with me. I overlooked this and got into the blankets to sleep.
All was good until I was woken up by him laying on top of me and groping at me, I couldn’t move let alone make a sound, he undid my jeans and as he proceeded, a loud knock came from the door followed by the sound of my friend. Her voice caused him to move from above me. Her voice allowed me to move again. I got up and ran to the bathroom. I came back out and was filled with such relief at seeing my friend. I hugged her and used her as a wall between me and him, I said nothing, all I did was tell her that I wanted to leave. She called an Uber, and we left. Dude hugged me goodbye, and I allowed him. I felt like I couldn’t do anything to prevent it. I got in the car and told my friend everything. She held me as I cried.
Looking back at the events of that night, I recognize that voice that told me to stay home as the voice of father correcting his daughter. I recognize my friend’s interruption of what could’ve been rape as God watching over me and using my friend to protect me from what could’ve changed my life. This happened right before the COVID lockdown happened. I used most of the lockdown as a way to be alone with God, to be healed by Him, to learn to forgive and to carry-on. To acknowledge what happened and correct my stance.
At first, I didn’t even recognize God’s voice. I ignored it, yet He still came through for me and protected me. I will never forget that. Everything I have belongs to God, and the reason I’m posting this now is because it no longer pains me to think about. I hope it helps college and university students to realize that it’s not wise to go into environments that contradict who God says we are.
Psalms 1:1
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
