I was molested and sexually assaulted from the ages of 4 through 11.

I reported two of the abusers two years ago: the one who molested me and the one who sexually assaulted me.

Still, I had more than two people touch me inappropriately throughout my whole childhood, and I didn’t know what they were doing was wrong at the time or that I wasn’t supposed to keep it a secret.

Nobody ever had the “uncomfortable” conversations with me, and I suffered in silence for a very long time.

Two years ago, I broke my silence by reporting two of the abusers.Two years ago, I started healing, and I’m not ashamed, and I don’t feel guilty because I shouldn’t.

I actually tried to disclose years ago, way before I reported, and I wasn’t believed by my mother, which is why I continued to suffer in silence.

Talk to your children and believe them if they ever disclose sexual abuse.

Don’t turn your back on them.