text: She was chained inside Cleveland's 'house of horrors' for almost 10 years - the longest of the three women who were kidnapped, imprisoned and abused by Ariel Castro. But Michelle Knight, who appeared at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center's Faces of Change Luncheon on Wednesday, refuses to be considered a victim. 'I don’t want my heart to be chained to the situations that I went through,' she told the crowd of 1,200 people. 'I want to overcome and flourish and rise above all that.' Scroll down for videos . No victim: Michelle Knight, seen here appearing at at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center's Faces of Change Luncheon on Wednesday, said her healing process has been 'to overcome and flourish and rise above' Standing ovation: Knight received a rapturous applause as she came on stage to give a speech . Speaking out: Michelle Knight, who was held captive by Ariel Castro for more than a decade, spoke Wednesday at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center Faces of Change Luncheon . Part of that flourishing, it seems, is a new relationship. According to Fox 8 Cleveland, Knight was signing copies of her book, Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed, after the event, when she revealed to readers that she does has a boyfriend. Knight did not reveal anymore about the man in her life, but said she feels comfortable sharing her story, because it can give others 'the same courage, hope and faith that I had'. She has a second book that she is working on based on what has become of her life since being rescued from Castro's house on May 6, 2013. Amanda Berry managed to escape from the house with her six-year-old daughter, with a neighbor calling police. Knight and the third victim, Georgina 'Gina' DeJesus, were then rescued. House of Horrors: After almost 10 years chained up inside, Michelle Knight and the two other women imprisoned in this Cleveland, Ohio, house by Ariel Castro were freed on May 6, 2013 . Fans: While signing copies of her memoir, Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed, after the event, when she revealed to readers that she does has a boyfriend . Castro pleaded guilty to 937 criminal counts of rape, kidnapping, and aggravated murder as part of a plea bargain and was sentenced to life in prison plus 1,000 years. However, less than one month into the sentence, he hanged himself using the bed sheets in his cell. During the talk at Wednesday's luncheon, Knight mentioned Castro, saying he too had been abused and did not seek help. 'My healing process is going forward,' Knight said. 'I’m starting to be more free now; I’m able to talk about it without crying.' The luncheon raised a record $254,000 for the center, which counsels rape survivors. Celebrity support: Knight is pictured here with Orange Is The New Black star Taryn Manning . According to Cleveland.com, one in every five Ohio women has been raped. The center helped 18,000 people last year, and representatives on Wednesday urged more rape victims to come forward. Knight also revealed she has recorded a song called Survivor, which she says will be released in May. She is also learning to play the piano. Her second book is centered around a journal she writes in each day while sitting outside each morning.
target: Knight appeared at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center's Faces of Change Luncheon on Wednesday .
  She received a standing ovation as the spoke to a crowd of 1,200 .
  'I want to overcome and flourish and rise above all that,' she said of ordeal .
  Afterwards she revealed she is in a relationship and writing a second book .