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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Politics
Rose Hackman

I was 14. He was 22. If it wasn’t grooming, what is?

illustration of woman with faceless man standing behind her in the dark, arm wrapped over her
‘I was 14, and my child self thought this was love at first sight.’ Illustration: Samantha Wall/The Guardian

It was 6.30am on a Saturday when I found out Fred had died.

I was sitting by the window on the second floor of my friend’s home in Brooklyn. I had woken up early, buzzing from the adrenaline of a series of unaccustomed public appearances following the recent publication of my book.

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