I hadn't cried

The not guilty verdict in the police rape trial came out three weeks ago. I wrote about that case; I wrote about it because I was angry. Women posted in the comment threads and e-mailed me, they told their stories.

I had not cried. I felt totally overwhelmed by what women go through, about how alone so many women are in their pain. One night I drove right past my street and down to the sea, because I was almost crying, and hoped I could let some of my sorrow out, but I couldn't.

Tonight I started reading the posts from April 18 - blog to raise awareness of sexual violence. I cried for the first time since the end of March. These posts frame telling women's stories as an act of resistance, and I cried.

I'm writing about me, I don't mean to make this about me. I just meant to say how moved I was by the strength of the women who speak out; how moved I am by the strength of the women who get up and face another day.