I’m 55 years old. I’ve spent my entire life feeling guilt & shame for crimes committed against me, and against my will.

Don’t ask me to be silent about the pain of my sexual abuse that started at the age of 5. Please, don’t say: “why are you still holding onto that?”

The reason is because it never stopped. At 9-years-old, it was just a different perpetrator, and I was a victim whose body was no longer hers.

Don’t silence me when the pain is still there…

As a teenager I was being trafficked by my mom, who believed that if you’re having sex you might as well get paid.

Look at me: in order to numb the pain — money and things is what gave me security, because in all of the situations there was no security…

I want you to hear me: this pain, guilt & shame has led me to a place of confinement — all because the world tells me not to share my secrets of sexual abuse…

I want you to know: don’t stifle the voice of someone who has been sexually abused – empower them to speak their truth without backlash.