"I realized these people were not my family and I needed to find out the truth about them. So I began to think smart. I did not argue. I followed blindly while planning and waiting for my chance."
-
-
"Everything added up together and I was stabbed by the familiar feeling of betrayal, of being taken for a fool."
-
"Why do you people keep choosing other women over me? Am I ugly? Too thin? Not smart enough?"
-
"A part of me wished I did all those things. Maybe then, they would have had a reason to treat me like this. But the kindness in me would not allow it."
-
Content Warning: This story contains descriptions of physical abuse, emotional manipulation, and familial violence. Please read with care.
-
"I wish I wasn't so ashamed of my period, that I was able to speak up and learn how to take care of myself better."
-
"Although periods were taught in school, it never felt practical. More than anything, I wish I had grown up in a place where I could share my experiences, be heard, and feel supported."
-
"Forgiveness didn't exist in my home."