Yesterday thousands of people took to Twitter to join the #MeToo conversation in an attempt to unveil the extent of sexual assault across the world. Hitting back at how rape culture has been normalised, people’s eyes were finally opened to the magnitude of the problem. But, whilst it is absolutely essential that people speak out, it’s something that is far from easy to discuss, especially on social media where your experience is made public to the world.

Whether you chose to share your story or have kept it to yourself, Najwa Zebian has written you a letter to reassure you that you are not alone in your suffering. To make you believe that your voice is worthy and you shouldn’t believe anyone that tells you that it isn’t. To show you that no matter what you’ve been told, there will always be people to listen to your side of the story.

To you,

If you are #MeToo

I know that they don’t believe you.
I know that they are pretending not to hear you.
I know that they shame you.
I know that they blame you.
I know that they make you feel like
You don’t belong.
Here.
I know that they make you
Doubt
Your story.
I know that they make you
Doubt
Yourself.
But let me tell you this.
I believe you.
I hear you.
I honour your story.
I salute the hero in you.
I commend the courage in you.
I stand with the heart in you.
You are brave.
Don’t you ever doubt that.
You are strong.
Don’t you ever give up.
It’s okay to be tired.
But do not give up.
It’s okay to be tired.
But do not give up.
It’s okay to feel the pain.
But do not let the pain overtake you.
You
Overtake
It.
You owe it the survivor in you.
You owe it to the fighter in you.
To get back up.
To stand tall.
And say, I am a hero.
I am a survivor.
I am a champion.
And if you wonder why I say this to you.
Well, it’s because
Me
Too.
Because they blamed me for it, too.
Because they told me not to talk about it, too.
Because they told me that it wasn’t that bad, too.
Because they told me to get over it, too.
Just like they told you, too.