Rape. Never has a word evoked such revulsion from me and indeed, any other individual who was raised right.

So you can understand my shock when my friend and colleague Kwarula decided to share a story about a rape survivor who had teamed up with her rapist to try and share their story. The story was on so I will simply syndicate.

Thordis Elva was raped in 1996 at 16 years old by Tom Stranger, her boyfriend at the time. After over 20 years, the pair has teamed together to talk candidly about their individual experience's of the rape during a TED Talk in San Francisco in October. The two of them are also co-authors of a book being released in March titled "South of Forgiveness," which tells the tale of what they both call "the darkest moment of their lives."

Before they begin their story, they are careful to say their journey of reconciliation and forgiveness is not meant to be set as an example for others to follow but to demonstrate that healing and forgiveness are possible.

In the talk, they begin with how they met - Stranger was an exchange student in Iceland from Australia and he and Elva began a romantic relationship. Then they describe how the rape happened. Watch their full TED Talk below. The video below may contain descriptions that are emotional triggers for some.

Overall, Elva and Stranger has one primary theme that they wish to address regarding sexual violence.

"It's about time that we stop treating sexual violence as a women's issue,"

Elva said near the end of the TED Talk.

"Just imagine all the suffering we could alleviate if we dare to face this issue together."

CLICK THE LINK HIGHLIGHTED IN BLUE ABOVE TO SEE THE VIDEO.