Trauma's Dark Corner: A Harrowing Tale There may have been a sign on the restroom door, but Chris paid it no mind. He felt as if he might lose control over his bladder if he didn't find a toilet immediately. Although nearly eleven years old, and well out of diapers, his bladder seemed a bit weak at times, and he was desperate to avoid an accident. As he stood in front of the last urinal (he always chose the one furthest from the door, back then), fumbling with the button on his blue denim shorts, he heard the door open, then close, then the snap of the lock. “No big deal,” Chris thought. He understood the need some people have for privacy. “I'd have locked it myself if I wasn't about to burst.” Later, when he was finally able to use public restrooms again, he would never forget the lock, never. He heard footsteps, hard-soled shoes clacking across the room on the tile floor, echoing in his direction. “Probably going to sit down in the stall behind me,” he thought. The footsteps stopped behind him. “This toilet is out of order, can't you read?” a voice boomed, a voice that was much deeper than any Chris had expected to hear in the boys' room of an elementary school. Chris jumped a little, quite startled. He forgot all about the button on his shorts and froze like a statue with a warm wetness filling his underwear and running down his leg. “Look what you did,” the voice boomed. “Now you've made a mess. You should learn to control yourself, filthy little....” His voice trailed off, and he seemed to be deep in thought. “I know,” he exclaimed, and grabbed Chris' shorts, pulling them roughly down to the floor. “You can clean it up with those.” Chris was so scared he could barely speak. …and then things took a turn
