judecorp | FBorFW - Elizabeth and Howard (may trigger)

Today's For Better or For Worse strip was kind of intense for me.

I always like it when FBorFW brings up serious topics. I think one of the things that makes it a good comic strip is that it's light on the comedy. I almost feel like part of the Patterson family since Michael and I are the same age - it's like we grew up together. I've always been a big fan.

I've been kind of anticipating that something more serious was going to happen between Elizabeth and Howard, but I didn't really expect what happened. It hits a little too close to home for me.

The summer of 1995 was the second summer I tried to live with my brother in his apartment in Amherst, and the first summer I successfully found employment and was able to stay. (In 1994 I stayed for a month and then went to Georgia with

lorac.) I ended up securing a job at the Subway sandwich shop at the Hampshire Mall, which was kind of fun and provided free food, which is way important when you make $5/hour. Because the managers trusted me, I usually was the closer which was a solo job after the first 2 hours or so. Which was nice.

One Saturday afternoon I actually had a day shift with this boy Raj, who I was actually mildly interested in when we first met, but he gave off pushy vibes. That Saturday afternoon, he ended up pushing me against a wall in the back of the Subway shop, lifting up my shirt, and totally violating me. He might have gotten further if I hadn't been a pretty strong kid who was able to push him away from me. It was one of the ickiest days of my life. I really don't like feeling like I have no control in a situation and the whole thing was so surreal, like I was watching it happen to someone else until I was able to get him off of me. That night I called the managers and said I didn't want to work with him again, but I never said why. I guess I was embarrassed or something.

I rarely think about that day and it doesn't bother me to talk about it. But I sure do empathize with Elizabeth Patterson right now.