My life has often been filled with pain. There are times when I feel I don’t belong, and times when I think life and I aren’t friends.
Sometimes I believe the world would be better off without me and that I’d be happier with angels instead. People have mocked me, saying they never truly loved me and only used me.
If I were gone, perhaps the hurt and abuse I suffered wouldn’t have happened. But I don’t wish for death; there’s much about me that others don’t know.
I’ve experienced sexual abuse several times in my life, never by the same person. Yet, I don’t blame all men or hate them. I believe people can change, and I embrace them.
I have a forgiving heart, no matter how deeply I’ve been hurt. I’ve never encountered a man who treated me well or respected me; they’ve all mistreated me in one way or another.
Sharing my story isn’t about my past relationships; it’s about showing my strength. I became a parent at nineteen, but the father of my child disappeared. When my son was six months old, I returned to university.
Unfortunately, my father fell ill and had to stop working, and my bursary didn’t cover all my fees, so I had to drop out. I had no support to help with my financial struggles.
People judged me harshly and spread false stories about me. I understand poverty and the pain of going to bed hungry. What hurts most is trying to help my family escape poverty, only to face judgment from relatives.
I may come from a wealthy family, but their selfishness and judgmental attitudes have made life hard for us.
I believe that my past does not define my future. I am hopeful for my family’s future. Just because I am a victim of abuse doesn’t mean I did anything to deserve it; the perpetrators chose to hurt me.
I’ve also been a victim of cyberbullying, but I refuse to let that bring me down. Instead, those experiences have pushed me to stand up for myself.
Suicide has crossed my mind many times, but I know there are people who care about me, and I want to live for them. My son inspires me to work hard for our future, and I believe every situation has an end.
I am not a victim; I am living proof that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” This is who I am.
