Wednesday One-Shot: I Kept Getting Back in the Car with Him

[00:00:02] Welcome to Wednesday One-Shots where we share a bonus story with you to help you get through that midweek slump. This week we have a story from a listener that asked to remain anonymous.

[00:00:22] It's a very important story and I'm really glad that they chose to share it with us. A few years ago, I was about to turn 20 so I decided that it was time to learn how to drive.

[00:00:31] A colleague from my job at the time gave me the number of somebody that her granddaughter had learned to drive with. I guessed the instructor was good since her granddaughter passed the driving test on her first try.

[00:00:44] That was apparently all the information I needed since I messaged the instructor right away and arranged my first lesson in two weeks time. Two weeks had passed quickly and I met him for the first lesson.

[00:00:56] He was an old man who smelled of cigarette smoke and had a permanent smirk. He thought that it was appropriate to call me babe from lesson one. I never corrected him and I assumed that he just did this because he had so many students

[00:01:10] and couldn't remember everybody's names. During our lesson, I was struggling to get a grip with the clutch. I stalled it multiple times. He put his hand on my knee, squeezed it, and then left it there.

[00:01:25] I never pushed him away and I figured he was trying to reassure me. I guess I didn't want to seem rude. As I continued attending lessons, I continued to make a million more excuses for his behavior.

[00:01:39] I was even trying to tell myself that this was normal for driving lessons. During lesson one, we were working on doing emergency stops. I made one where I slammed on the brakes and the momentum kept me moving forward until the seatbelt lurched me back.

[00:01:55] He shot his arm out. My chest lined up with where his hand was. I thought I possibly imagined it, but I didn't want to be weird so I still didn't say a word. I continued with another lesson after that.

[00:02:11] For this lesson, I drove as directed towards the coast. We ended up on a tiny lane in a secluded area. I can't bring myself to go into any more additional details, but after this lesson, I wasn't making

[00:02:23] any more excuses for this man and thankfully, there were no more lessons after that. I burned with shame after these lessons since I did nothing. I was terrified people would find out so I didn't tell anyone.

[00:02:36] I was also in an abusive relationship at the time and didn't even dare tell him. I knew if I did, I'd be in a horrendous amount of trouble and accused of cheating. I disassociated from everything pretending that it was something I had read in the chapter

[00:02:53] of someone else's book. Fast forward a year later. I started a new job, surrounded by colleagues and we gathered together for team breakfast. Walking back through town to get to our offices, we rounded a corner and my heart stopped. I saw him. The driving instructor. I couldn't breathe.

[00:03:14] He blew me a kiss as he passed and every single memory hit me. I threw up. Disassociation was no longer an option. I felt like I was about to pass out. By some miracle, my new job was with the police and they know trauma when they see it.

[00:03:33] I was gently guided back to the office and taken to a victim's suite where a senior detective sat with me as I steadied my breathing. I told him everything, unaware of the tears streaming down my face.

[00:03:46] I could only stare at the ground in shame and embarrassment for being so stupid. I found it difficult to look the detective in the eye. As I finished telling my story, I was sure I was going to lose my job.

[00:04:00] I felt like people like me didn't deserve to be on the force. I felt like a stupid girl for attracting disgusting attention. The detective held my hand and apologized. He told me that it wasn't my fault and thanked me for being brave and sharing.

[00:04:15] Fast forward again to the start of this year. Telling my story sparked an overdue investigation. To date, 12 additional students have come forward, both male and female. This man's driving school has been closed and he was forced to move away.

[00:04:32] To the driving instructor asshole, you'd better pray that we never meet again. The girl you knew has grown into a badass woman who will not take any crap. And to any other survivors, it's not your fault. All the blame lies unequivocally on your predator.

[00:04:48] Any blame or shame left behind is not yours to carry. Be kind to yourself because you undoubtedly deserve it. Be rude, be weird, and stay safe. I want to thank the anonymous author for sending in that story.

[00:05:03] I kept getting back in the car with him and thank you for listening. I felt that this story was very important to share. I really hope that it can help somebody out there that's in a similar situation that's silently suffering alone. You don't have to be alone.

[00:05:16] Talk to somebody. We'll see you next week for a full episode of Let's Not Meet. Stay safe.