Dear Lily,

It is a good sign that your friend was willing to talk to you about her experience. Since she is your BFF, I’m assuming that you have known her a while. You can imagine how difficult it was for her to talk about since it took so long for her to be able to share this with you. The most important thing you can do for your friend is to first let her know that you are there for her and appreciate her sharing it with you. Even though it happened several years ago, she can still report it to the police. You might want to ask her if it was reported at the time. If it was, there would be some record of the report. If you suspect that she didn’t tell anyone, consider being honest with her about it. Offer to go with her to talk to someone. It can be a counselor or trusted adult at your school.

Too often people that are the victims of sexual assault do not report it, often due to a sense of shame and concern about how others will view them. It is important to report it, however, because it is likely that the perpetrator will continue to sexually assault others in the future. It is also important for the victim to get counseling support, as there are often feelings of shame, anxiety, and depression resulting from such a traumatic event. A good place to start is by contacting a hotline such as the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-HOPE. They can put victims in touch with local counseling centers with staff that are trained in assisting victims of sexual assault.