A Journey of Self-Discovery as a Survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse
From Silence to Strength: Reclaiming Your Life After Abuse I was only five years old when it began – just a child. I was an expressive, lively, yet serious little girl who loved to laugh and sing around the house. To him, however, I was merely an object for his depraved desires. He always had his eyes on me, and what I now refer to as "the incidents" became a disturbing routine. It became so routine, in fact, that I believed it was normal. He touched me at every opportunity he had. He didn’t care the time of day or who else was home; all he needed was a five-minute window, and he took advantage. Afterward, I always felt dirty, scrubbing my skin raw and painful with a Brillo pad in the shower. I knew what he was doing was wrong, but he would always look me directly in the eyes and tell me never to tell. I kept his secret, even when my spirit longed to speak, silenced by the deceptive allure of the gifts I received. Then one day, a few months before my ninth birthday, I final...