33 days ago

When you hear a mother say, “33 days ago my daughter was raped. My hearing impaired daughter was raped”.

There’s an awkward silence because I don’t know how to respond. There’s no comfort to offer that wouldn’t sound hollow or pathetic.

 
Every morning I pick up my daughter’s two little friends and drop all three girls at school. This morning the one mom, who travels from MP to the grandmother’s house which I pass on my way, was running late. With a small detour I found them along the way. The poor woman had to carry her 5yr old because two weeks back she broke her leg. She uses public transport, in peak hour traffic, to make her way with two of her four children, bags and crutches, then still carries the little one about half a kilometer.

This morning, after dropping the girls, I brought the mom back to the grandmothers house but she wouldn’t get out of the car. I was already going to be late for work and was somewhat irritated at this woman’s reluctance to move. Then I looked over my shoulder and saw her tears. She started talking but all I remember hearing is “33 days ago my daughter was raped”.