NOT HE SEDUCED ME, or he tried to have sex with me, or he persuaded me. But rape. “He actually forced himself on you?” She closed her eyes and nodded while tears leaked down her cheeks. Aiyana moved from the sofa to sit beside her on the love seat. “Yes. I said no, but he wouldn’t listen. Then he put his hand over my mouth so I wouldn’t scream.” “How old are you?” “I just turned sixteen. This was two years ago, though.” “You were only fourteen and he forced you?” “Yes.” Emily covered her mouth because she felt a little sick. Mika was just shy of fourteen, barely more than a child. She imagined a boy like Justin forcing himself onto a girl that young. It would ruin her. Poor Iris. No surprise that she needed music for healing. Fourteen was far, far too young to be forced to grow up in that way, to face some of the cruelty of humanity.
