Survivor Story: Alicia

In the Fall of 2018, I met a sweet, funny, and attractive guy who I could relate to in so many ways. Occasionally we would go out and get drinks at a bar, and I always had fun and enjoyed my time with him. Then came the black out periods. I would wake up frightened after going out with him because I couldn’t remember anything I did from the night before. He would always be there when I woke up telling me that we had a wonderful time.

One day in December, I was conscious enough to realize I had been drugged and tied to a bed in an unfamiliar room. Months went by of being physically, sexually, mentally, and emotionally abused along with other young girls. Even though my traffickers kept me so drugged and out of it, I was determined to escape from that horrific place.

During my time in captivity, I worked up enough strength to remember their daily routine and develop a plan to escape whenever the time was right. One day I had a chance to run, and that’s exactly what I did. When I got to safety, I found out that I was a victim of human trafficking.

Human Trafficking left me with a lot of mental, physical, and emotional damage inside and out. When I finally was safe and came out of shock, I went straight to the authorities. Of course I went to them in hysterics, and since I looked like a "junkie" they would not listen to me. A few months down the road, they found me and came to ask questions. They said some underage girls came to them with the same story that I shared with them previously. I explained to them that I thought deeply about the situation and did not feel safe talking about it with them. I was set on ignoring the past and focusing on getting my freedom back and escaping this horrible nightmare altogether.

After four years of running away from the horrors that I experienced, I bravely decided to stop running and focus on recovery and healing. I was so injured and broken that I would have to block out the past with alcohol and other mind-altering substances. My advocate asked me for a few years if I wanted her to find me a program for survivors of human trafficking, and I finally said yes. I needed to be surrounded with love and to be reminded of my worth and that I was not alone. The best decision I ever made was to join the faith-based programs at The WellHouse.

During my time here, I am learning to find my identity all over again. I am a person with mental and moral strength. I am proud to admit that I have overcome some of the effects of my trauma and will not let it define me as a person.

Seeing myself now as a survivor and not a victim has completely changed my way of thinking. Being in recovery with other women who have gone through similar things reminds me that I am not alone on this journey. The women and staff at The WellHouse have helped me understand the Bible. I have found a relationship with God who loves me for me. Psalm 147:3 has comforted me knowing that the Lord "Heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds".

I want to let the world know that human trafficking is right under our noses. It is everywhere and it is bigger than the world could even imagine. Most victims are scared to come forward, and I want them to know that they are not alone. There are programs to help them get to safety and find the healing they need. I never thought that I would ever share parts of my traumatic experience, and writing this survivor story shows how much I’ve grown during my journey from victim to survivor.

I am so proud of how much I have overcome. My traumatic past will not define me as a person. You may not understand why my testimony is so important to me, but it has molded me into the person I am today. In the future, I want to share my story and use my experiences to help organizations that specialize in fighting human trafficking.

I am now a graduate of The WellHouse program and have decided to further my healing by staying in their transitional apartments on campus. I have received help with buying a car. I work full-time and I’m going to college part-time in pursuit of an accounting degree. I showed up at The WellHouse as a victim, and I have transformed into an incredibly determined, courageous, and beautiful survivor.