The Epstein Files

Please don’t sensationalize the Epstein Files. It is easy to be curious and want to know all the details. But there were hundreds of real women, or rather young girls; daughters, sisters, classmates, and neighbours, who were taken advantage of – robbed of their innocence – and are still haunted by their experiences.

People often ask [mostly men] why do women wait so long? Why come forward after so many years have past? There are many reasons – trauma is usually the main reason. Embarrassment and shame are other reasons. Denial and/or self blame can replay its ugly dialogue; asking themselves why did they allow it to happen – these are all reasons to avoid or suppress their horrible memories.

Purposely suppressing memories is an unending battle. They never stay buried – they are like skeletons in the closet. Triggers happen. A name. A smell. A town. A taste. These triggers open the door. Once that door opens a flood of memories resurface. It takes years to confront them. Admitting and accepting the memories is typically the first step in deciding to come forward.

Remember, the “incident” happened many years ago, when they were a child, when they were manipulated and over-powered and unable to comprehend the situation. Years of suppression, years of trying to be normal, years of attempting to ‘keep calm and carry on’ are their efforts to cope, until they can’t.

Then, when they finally gather the strength and the courage to come forward – they often face people who doubt their stories.

Men think. Women feel.

Men who take advantage of young women think it’s no big deal. They think it means nothing. But mostly, they think there was no harm done.

It is a big deal.

It does mean something.

And yes, there was harm done.