One of me very best friends was raped about 8 months ago. It deeply bothers me and sickening thoughts continue to dwell in the back of my mind. What disturbs me the most is the fact that she kept it hidden and that she doesn't want my or any of her other friends to do anything about it. She just wants to forget it and move on, but I don't visualize it being that simple. As long as I know that some sick freak like that is still out there, and that this could happen to anyone else again, even another one of my friends, I won't just "let it go". I understand how difficult it would be to talk about something like that, but it seems suspicious, like there could be more to the story than we know. What pisses me off the most, is how this guy thinks he got away with, I mean, it has been 8 entire months. I respect her opinion and the fact that she wants to move on, but I don't think I'll be able to allow this to be forgotten and move on. I can't imagine, but I know that that's not something easy to live with, having that in the back of your mind everyday. I can't believe something like that would happen to one of my friends, especially after all that she's been through, she doesn't deserve this. She's to good of a person to have that happen and leave it at that, what should be done? If it's this hard for me and my friends to deal with it, then I couldn't possibly imagine what she's going through everyday. How do we cope? What should we do?

If (IF) she was truly raped (and I don't know you from a hole in the ground so don't take this personally), then she should have reported to the nearest hospital and had STD tests done, etc. She should have reported the rape and that would have set in motion a set of circumstances that would have been in her best interests. She can still report it, and stop this man from taking advantage again.

She is doing herself an injustive and disservice. Somewhere down the way she will regret not doing anything about it. Physically she probably will be okay, but mentally not.

See, but the thing is, she doesn't want anyone to know about it. And, would there still be DNA from 8 months ago?

Of course there wouldn't be any DNA. But... she should be tested for STDs. Does she want to be marked for life with anything like syphilis, hep C, look it up all the STDs on google.com and you will see what is involved.

She can at least tell them what he looked like. Or is there a deeper reason why she doesn't want to do this ? You have to get her to talk about this. There is a rape crisis line in your community and I suggest you call it and see just what kind of questions you should be asking her, questions that won't get her suspicious of your intentions and go from there.

There has to be a closure to her pain and she has to do it.