my dinner at the brewery raised some questions for me. Perhaps I am being paranoid, but the waitress oddly brought my husband an ordinary glass, then came over and apologized, saying, “I forgot you were a member here.” Then, when I went to the restroom, the hostess said to another hostess, “Victoria has checked in.” (I had sent a message months ago just sketching out that I was assaulted and had a business complaint against Victoria’s old studio) loudly enough for me to hear. I did feel uncomfortable seeing her, that old sick feeling when I see anyone I remember from the studio. But I didn’t tell my husband because I wanted him to have fun. She never has shown up to the dinners before.  

I don’t know why I’m surprised if there was a bit of social cruelty. Perhaps , she has spun the dance studio version of the story. But I don’t see how they can justify that assault. My ex dance teacher suddenly opened the front door before I even tried to open it that night, menacingly. He had to have been looking out the window for me. Those few moments where I was waiting for him to say something and he was blocking the door were terrifying.  I had not had any contact with him for months, besides very occasionally going to dance parties and dancing with other people. I have no idea what provoked him, but I did see Victoria, his dance partner, at the bookstore a few nights before. I briefly said hi, that’s all, but the conversation felt odd. I did not deserve that, even if I had a mental event months before (he had held me while I was shaking). There is no grey area where “this is self defense” here, in my opinion. He opened the door, I stepped through, and he assaulted me. He even mockingly smiled as he opened the door. I would have probably just stopped going to the dance studio altogether anyway