Recovery from violence

Hurt and harm have come to K st yet again, this time much closer to my heart...

Aaliyah is one of my daughters that lived in the house I managed for NJNP. She is my big baby because she is a tall drink of water like me, a beautiful spirit, giving, supportive, kind and gentle, but who is now frightened and fearful for their life after being brutally attacked on K st just three days ago.

Tensions were already high among sex workers and residents along that Kst corridor, with many residents harassing, verbally and physically assaulting the girls as they attempted to work. I hope this isn’t an escalation of that tension - but let me tell you what happened.

Aaliyah said it was a pretty typical night until a figure appeared out of the shadows and started attacking her. She fought back, and I believe the only reason it didn’t get any worse was that the assailant's knife was stuck in her hand. She sustained two deep cuts and had a finger nearly severed from her hand, defending herself from what could have been certain death as she said that he was powerful and angry.

The trauma from that experience has shaken her to her core as she was robbed by a masked man with a full face covering mask dressed in all black, making her fearful of sex working again. She’s been experiencing nightmares and is afraid to sleep for fear of someone popping out of the shadows to get her. She hasn’t been out of the house since the hospital released her and has become leary of everyone. So I had to understand when she was reluctant even to see me, who she calls Ma.

Fortunately, the hospital saved her finger, but they still have to operate to reattach it correctly to try to give her some use of her whole hand again. She needs extensive physical therapy and mental health care to be ok with this experience and to be able to rest and attempt to move forward with her life.

During the attack, the perpetrator stole her purse with over $400, house and car keys (fob is over $600 to replace) and her cell phone. She made it out alive, scared, bruised and damaged but leaving her scraping and scrounging to get her car before it’s impounded and to pay rent and utilities because it is that time of the month again, and she isn’t on Section 8 or housing assistance programs.

I know this is a lot to ask. Still, she will need sustained support for the next several months as she goes through healing physically, mentally and emotionally. Giving her the time to look at her options and find her way should she choose not to move forward as an active sex worker while she heal san goes through therapy is the least we can do to assist her. My daughter's spirit is broken, I hear it in her voice, and I see it in her eyes. Life isn’t always fair, but this is just wrong for her to go through all this when she was vibrant and resilient just a week ago. We owe her the support she needs to regain her confidence in this world, this city, that this wasn’t okay and that we take care of our people when things like this kind of hate and violence happen. With rent being $1400, plus utilities, food, car expenses and miscellaneous life expenses, it's a lot, and the big ask for help for several months is to get back to some semblance of normal in not-normal times. $3000 per month for five months is a lot to ask. Still, these are realistic living expenses in the District of Columbia that no government agency can meet, as sex workers do not get unemployment or workers' compensation when injured on the job. We rely upon our own; this is one of those times our own needs us so she can heal.