White Gold. Diamond.

Please note that this is a story not only of a diamond, but one of a thread. A tie between a father, and a daughter. A division between an attacker and a survivor. I assure you this is a story of triumph. Though that does not mean easy to read. If in this day you need to be careful of sexual assault triggers, you may need to skip this one.

“It is said that quiet people have the loudest minds.”

Steven Hawking gets credit for this, but regardless of who said it, it’s hit a chord. Taking this idea and applying it elsewhere, sometimes it’s the simple things which carry with them the most powerful stories. Stories which are simply deafening.

This is the story of such a piece.

Given by a father, before his passing, a gift to his daughter. I first met these diamonds a few years ago as I was shining them up, getting them ready to take a trip across the pond. They were preparing their voyage, to adorn the ears of the daughter, who had set out to marry her soul mate on an isle in Greece. Needless to say, these simple studs carry with them incredible value in the sentimental department.

Here is where the story takes a turn, so for those of you sensitive, now is when you may want to take leave. You’ll know that she made it and her desire for life, immense.

This is not the place where I attempt to interpret what happened to Vanessa. Here you hear her story in her words. This post went viral.

“At about 7:15am Wednesday, I was walking my dog Berreta alone on our regular loop on the Platte River Trail, a short walk from my home. A man passed by me that I had recognized briefly from the day prior when I was walking with Billie. He didn’t make eye contact with me and I got a very strange vibe. Somehow he made it on the other side of the loop, meaning he must’ve cut through the woods somewhere knowing where I was headed. The dog and I passed him and I said excuse me. About 30 seconds later I noticed him very close behind me. I saw he had a rope in his hands and at that point he was too close to try and put any distance between us.

He strangled me from behind and drug me into the woods about 15 feet off the trail where he removed almost all of my clothes. He continued to choke me using his hands, the rope, and with a bandana of some sort. I fought like hell and screamed my brains out, even my sweet dog tried to fight him and bite him as much as she could. He threatened to kill me, I believe to get me to stop screaming. I thought that this could be the end but I was not about to give up fighting for my life. He hog tied me from my neck to my wrists, then to my ankles and told me he was going to let me go but he needed to find his glasses first. He searched for them multiple times and couldn’t find them, I begged him to let me help but he said he couldn’t trust me. I somehow managed to sit up and was able to reach the knot around my ankles and free myself.

I had no choice at that point but to run for my life as fast as I could, unfortunately without my dog. I made it to the bike path almost completely naked screaming for help. I’m so thankful there were people around that ultimately were able to protect me. A man on a bike chased him down and was able to restrain him until police arrived. HE IS IN CUSTODY. He is a registered sex offender and has multiple warrants out for his arrest, the detectives are very confident he won’t be seeing light of day for a very very long time, if not ever. Later I was able to find Berreta, so she is also safe at home”.

When the dust settled, Vanessa realized she was only wearing a single earring.

_One was lost, a division from two to one._

Still, an attachment remains here, a thread from this father to his daughter. Transformed and now worn closer to her heart. This is not a story a of loss, but one of a survivor. A decision was made, instead of trying to find what was lost and then wear it in her body, this would be an exercise in letting go. Somewhere in a field, lies a sparkling diamond and there it will stay. Because she’s chosen her direction, onward. For in this life, there is far too much to accomplish.

So. much. LOVE to you girl.