Conversation with a Stranger: Brittney

A Conversation with Brittney

By Jack Thomas & Brittney

Jack – Let’s start. Give your name, age, and profession for the curious readers.

Brittney – Brittney, 24. Pharmacy technician. Aspiring writer. I hope to publish a book one day.

Jack – How long have you been writing? Have you started honing the skill?

Brittney – Since I was 11 or 12. It was my outlet. I was emotionally and sexually abused.

Jack – Have you written a lot about it?

Brittney – For years, that was most of my writing.

Jack – Besides writing, how else have you coped?

Brittney – Counseling. Sports—soccer, softball. It’s still not easy. It affects me daily.

Jack – Did counseling help? Would you recommend it over something physical like sports?

Brittney – Honestly? No. It just brings back memories.

Jack – So, sports helped more? Or were they just another distraction?

Brittney – They helped. Exercise, refocusing my mind. But trusting people became harder. I have anxiety now. Diagnosed. Not on meds, but I probably should be. It’s interfering too much.

Jack – How?

Brittney – Relationships. I push people away.

Jack – Is it a choice? Or is it just who you’ve become?

Brittney – The trust issues. Maybe borderline personality disorder. I get too attached, clingy. Fear of losing them makes me the reason they leave.

Jack – Do you see it happening? Or do you realize it too late?

Brittney – Usually too late. But I’m trying again. Counseling. It’s been a few years.

Jack – Are you in a relationship now? Going through the same cycle? Or avoiding it altogether?

Brittney – Yes, I am. But I’m trying to work on myself.

Jack – What steps have you taken?

Brittney – Independence. Handling my anxiety. Reminding myself not everything is bad. That I do deserve good things.

Jack – I’m going to get more personal. Was the abuser a family member?

Brittney – My stepdad. And my ex-boyfriend.

Jack – Were they ever reported? Or are they living punishment-free?

Brittney – I never said anything. My ex was mostly emotional. A little physical. Pushing. Slaps across the face.

Jack – Was the worst damage from your stepfather?

Brittney – No. The sexual abuse didn’t hurt as much as the emotional abuse I’ve been through.

Jack – So your ex left the biggest scars. How did you leave him?

Brittney – I just… left. Hardest thing I’ve done. We were friends for a long time before that. Harder to trust after him.

Jack – Alright, we’re at the end of this conversation experiment. Hopefully, I can have you back for another topic. Any message you want to leave for readers who might be going through something similar?

Brittney – Yeah. If you’re going through this, know this—they are wrong. They do not control who you are or who you can be. Abusers thrive on suffering. The only way forward is to rise above. Their words, their actions, their damage—none of it defines you. Bad things happened to me, and I’m still here. Still fighting for better. That means you can, too.

Jack – Thank you for sharing this, Brittney.

Brittney – You’re welcome. It was nice talking with you.