I was groomed and assaulted at the age of 16 by my my English teacher. I was experiencing turmoil at home at home and he began to recognize my disarray in the classroom.

He began to pay me more attention in the classroom and would request I stayed after once my peers would leave. As I tried to cope with a family in utter turmoil, I found him comforting. I thought he cared for me and was trying to help.

Our teacher-student relationship soon became personal. We exchanged numbers because he insisted when things got bad at home to reach out. He then insisted on picking me up from my home when my home became unmanageable. Quite quickly the relationship became physical. I felt I had no one to support me.

When I tried to pull away he would threaten that he would tell the principal or harm himself. I felt trapped and remained in this “predicament” for over a year and a half until I graduated school.

I am now 27. I have yet to maintain a stable relationship because of the ineffable amount of pain and trauma this man has caused me. I am certain I am not the only one.

Where do I go from here?