I made a choice painful and as complicated as this may turn out I know it is the right step forward. I am going to give my parents a second chance at protecting me, will they own it?

Hesitantly I tell them of the molestation that their son had afflicted on me, my older brother. The fear that was silently imposed on me the pain and shame. Slowly I tell them everything.

Silence

This is no longer my hidden secret instead the words hang in the air. Vulnerable I look at my mother there are tears in her eyes my father will not make eye contact.

I wait anxiously to see how they will react, to listen to what they will say. I am ready to be comforted to be told I will be safe, to hear that I am loved.

Silence

After a lengthy time i leave to my room I contemplate many different reasons why they could not be there for me when I needed them, again.

To not have my painful experiences acknowledged at all is as if I am reliving the nightmare. I silently suffered for over a decade where is my refuge?

Silence

I do not want my parents to hate or out cast him. For myself I needed them to know the truth to enable myself to move on. I needed support I needed my parents love.

I want to hear them apologies to say they were sorry they did not protect me. To let them explain they would have stopped the evil had they known.

Silence

Rachel Leah

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A year ago the above conversation took place. I have yet to hear my parents mention or hint at what occurred. I have contemplated bringing them in to my therapist and discussing all together what happened. I decided against group therapy I am not sure if I could handle being abandoned from my parent's once more. When I decided to open up and tell it was after months of toil, hours of difficult work, and moment's of self-determination. I encourage others in spite of my experience to tell, holding inside your secret and pain can be far more damaging. In retrospect I am relieved that I told my parent's it has allowed me to move on.