So a close friend of mine recently told me of how she was beaten and raped...

[OhYesIdid]

fuck me, I don't know how to handle this. I don't want to betray her trust, so interestingly enough I resort to the interwebs. Have any of you ever been in a similar situation? What can I do to help? Should I even try to help? I've known her since middle school and I really care for her and this was a big shock. She speaks of having had nightmares and feeling uneasy for a long time, however, she tries to avoid the subject and forces a sickly, heartbreaking, half-smile. This makes me feel bad when trying to console her, yet I don't think just ignoring the issue is going to do anyone any good.
Help me, Revleft, she's like a sister to me, and the fact that she kept it a secret for maybe a month breaks my heart. We're in different school groups now and I feel like shit for not being there for her. What the fuck can I do?

[Zav]

fuck me, I don't know how to handle this. I don't want to betray her trust, so interestingly enough I resort to the interwebs. Have any of you ever been in a similar situation? What can I do to help? Should I even try to help? I've known her since middle school and I really care for her and this was a big shock. She speaks of having had nightmares and feeling uneasy for a long time, however, she tries to avoid the subject and forces a sickly, heartbreaking, half-smile. This makes me feel bad when trying to console her, yet I don't think just ignoring the issue is going to do anyone any good.
Help me, Revleft, she's like a sister to me, and the fact that she kept it a secret for maybe a month breaks my heart. We're in different school groups now and I feel like shit for not being there for her. What the fuck can I do?
You need to find time to be there for her. Give her space, but let her know she can talk to you and cry on your shoulder if she needs to. Also, try to get her to get professional help. That sort of abuse is too serious to let steep.

[piet11111]

You could just say that you want to help her anyway you can but that you don't know what you could do.

This way she knows she can tell you anything she needs help with even if its just a listening ear.

[Sasha]

You need to find time to be there for her. Give her space, but let her know she can talk to you and cry on your shoulder if she needs to. Also, try to get her to get professional help. That sort of abuse is too serious to let steep.

This, don't go all macho and make promises you cant or shouldnt keep like "i will make sure that this never will happen again" or "I will track him down and kill him".
Just be a shoulder and do try her to get her to an female, rape cases expert, professional therapist.
Don't push but don't let her internalise the experience either, it was and will never be her own fault.

[praxis1966]

This, don't go all macho and make promises you cant or shouldnt keep like "i will make sure that this never will happen again" or "I will track him down and kill him".
Just be a shoulder and do try her to get her to an female, rape cases expert, professional therapist.
Don't push but don't let her internalise the experience either, it was and will never be her own fault.

^Exactly what I'd do. And if need be, I can help you track down some resources in your area if she's low income so she can get the help she needs without forking over a truckload of cash.