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SURVIVOR STORIES

Don’t Let What Happened to You Keep You Back

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My abuse started when I was four years old and continued until I was about seventeen, I never told anyone what was happening to me nor did I say anything until I was about 20 years old. I remember talking with my mom and our neighbor about being forced to do things. I tried so hard to keep it to myself because I was still scared of the two relatives who abused me. When I finally came clean to my mom, she had asked the two about it and they lied, so I was left alone again. Then, two years later, I found out it happened to my younger sister and my niece by the same people. I blamed myself for the longest time. If I would have come forward maybe none of this would have happened to them. 

But it wasn’t my fault. Shortly after finding out, we took both of them to trial and both were sentenced to 25 years to life. I lost a lot of family members because they blamed me. That was a turning point for me. I knew then that the only one who was going to be there for me was my now-husband, our kids, and his family. They are the reason I am still here today fighting to live my life as normal as possible. Without them I don’t know where I would be. I still get flashbacks or nightmares, but I can move past it and have a somewhat normal life. 

Don’t let what happened to you keep you back from being the best you that you can be. We are survivors and we are not alone. 

-Brittany, Survivor