I thought it was normal…

I thought it was normal considering it happened multiple times and I thought he’d take care of me. I had the mindset that this was such a cool secret to have. Eventually I was not interested anymore, and I’d find ways to stay busy so he wouldn’t sexually harass me, especially when my parents worked long days (they would come home at night) and my little brother would be taking naps. He finally got the message and moved out (he was renting a room). I still kept it to myself even when I finally realized that it wasn’t normal. Years later I started working at a grocery store and this man decided to come to the cash register I was at to check-out. He talked to me like nothing happened, asking how my parents and brother were. I felt uncomfortable and wanted to cry. That night was when I realized how much what he did impacted me from a very young age and the healing I needed to do. Over the years, I’ve set healing aside many times and so it’s still something I’m working on today, but I have realized how strong I am.

-Anonymous (she/her/Ella)