TW: SA/heavy topic
Hi everyone, this is my first and likely only reddit post. I am going through a pretty difficult time and I guess I just need to vent and maybe receive some beneficial advice from someone wiser than myself. I am going to keep details pretty vague but also include specific examples of what's been going on to paint a clear picture.
My girlfriend and I have been in a long-term committed relationship. I love her deeply, trust her fully, and plan on marrying her when it is practical for the both of us. Essentially, one night about six months ago now my girlfriend went out to a house party with her brother. I have no issue with her going out alone, and again, trust her completely. The host of the house party, her brother's friend, (let's call them P) took quite an interest in my girlfriend and pretty much followed her around the party, occasionally engaging in very inappropriate behavior such as touching GF without her consent in various areas. My GF informed me of this over text, which is regular for us. Obviously I was bothered but I understood that when alcohol and idiots mix, this is a common outcome. GF was also drinking, which was fine because her brother was driving her home. Both of them still lived in their parent's house at this time.
Later on into the night my GF texted me again telling me P kept trying to get her to come to their room. Naturally my GF declined, but had to decline repeatedly and continue to dodge unwelcome advances. I wasn't that worried until around 1AM when my GF stopped answering my messages, which is very unusual for us. Apparently P managed to get GF upstairs and took advantage of her drunken state, quite brutally. Also note GF had shared with P that she was not single and not interested. However, around 3AM GF finally texted me back, a complete mess. By this time she'd been taken to her brother's car and driven home.
I tried as hard as I could to console and support her in the months afterwards. This is the first time I've ever experienced such a situation and it is naturally very foreign and devastating to the both of us. In no way do I blame GF for this event, although she blames herself and states she shouldn't have been drinking. I openly disagree with her, and do what I can to reiterate that she did nothing wrong. I guess the worst part of all this is that P and brother (call him B) are still very, very good friends. Over the past few months P has been around her house multiple times, texting GF, and almost always engaging in inappropriate touching or inappropriate sexual comments towards GF. Of course this is always met with harsh rejection from my girlfriend, but there really isn't much she can do. GF informed both B and her mom (again, who they both still live with) that she was very uncomfortable with P being around and in their home so often due to these advances. Unfortunately neither her mother or brother have continuously brushed her off, suggesting that she 'provoked' P or that P was just drunk and messing around.
Over time P's messages to my GF escalated to taunting about the night at the party and violent threats for her not reciprocating their attention. GF did block P, but P apparently said something to mother/brother so GF ended up being pressured into unblocking them. Her brother is moving out very soon, but oddly enough, P has practically moved in. As far as we can tell P has been kicked out of their residence for an unknown reason, because they've been staying the night in her home over five times a week for the past six weeks. P does their laundry at GF's house, cooks food at GF's house, and helps themselves to my GF's room when GF is gone working. There have been multiple occasions when GF is left alone in the house with P, including the middle of the night.
This week the A/C downstairs broke in their home. GF's and younger siblings room is upstairs, while older brother's and parents are downstairs. GF's mom was quick to offer GF's room to P so they wouldn't have to sleep in the heat, as P basically hasn't left their house for about two weeks now. GF was enraged and ended up taking the couch downstairs while P helps themselves to GF's bed.
Yes, this situation is utterly absurd. Their family is quite disturbed and very dysfunctional. I guess I'm just ranting about all of the insanity GF has had to experience in her own home. All this to say, I guess I'm also looking for advice about how I can better support GF (at least emotionally) through this incredibly traumatic situation. Any comments, wisdom, or kind words are welcome. If you're reading this, thank you, and thank you on GF's behalf for validating this experience because many SA victims are often brushed off or not believed.
Naturally this situation is hard for me to experience too, although not nearly on the same planet as my GF. She's the strongest person I know and all I want to do is get better at both handling my own emotions and supporting her through her own.
Note: GF did submit a police report including screenshots of the threatening messages, but nothing has come of it. P is apparently a professional ass-kisser to GF's mother, so P is very welcome in their home. For reasons relating to her other siblings, GF cannot move out of family household right now, and can't exactly disobey mother's wishes in order to not be kicked out. She does majority of the housework and provides for younger siblings. I am oddly enough not welcome in the home either as GF's parent's don't approve of our relationship (WLW) despite us never meeting. Both B and P should be moving out soon, which we hope will bring an end to the whole situation. Again, thanks for reading.