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Silent Cries: Memories of an Incest Survivor
Even though she was just a little girl, the first time it happened, she knew her father was doing something wrong. But she couldn't make him stop -- her cries were silent.
For years, the author's father sexually abused and raped her, and her attempts to foil his attacks mostly failed. Early on, Charlotte had tried to get help, but no one would believe her, and her mother was helpless in stopping her father's behavior. So for years, she maintained a "carefully constructed veil of silence" and tried to suppress those memories.
As Charlotte grew older, several important people in her life did come to her aid, sheltering her and mentoring her. She returned to college, earned her master's degree and pursued a career. But her first marriage failed, and she developed health problems -- believing that both might be attributed to her emotional state. It wasn't until her younger daughter, who was taking a class in Criminal Justice, confronted her one day, and the veil began to lift. She had learned about the signs of child abuse and recognized them in her mother. Charlotte was amazed that her daughter had been able to see through the "veil of silence" and felt that her terrible secret was no longer a secret. Someone had heard her "silent cries."
Five years after her divorce, she met a widower and fell in love. She had married him ... he who made her feel loved and safe, finally allowing herself to let someone get close to her.
While the author feels she can never forget the fear and pain of being abused by her father, she learned to survive by building a successful career, and facing new situations, people and experiences. It is her hope that, by sharing these experiences, anyone who has been sexually abused will realize that she or he is not alone and be encouraged by Charlotte's story.
For years, the author's father sexually abused and raped her, and her attempts to foil his attacks mostly failed. Early on, Charlotte had tried to get help, but no one would believe her, and her mother was helpless in stopping her father's behavior. So for years, she maintained a "carefully constructed veil of silence" and tried to suppress those memories.
As Charlotte grew older, several important people in her life did come to her aid, sheltering her and mentoring her. She returned to college, earned her master's degree and pursued a career. But her first marriage failed, and she developed health problems -- believing that both might be attributed to her emotional state. It wasn't until her younger daughter, who was taking a class in Criminal Justice, confronted her one day, and the veil began to lift. She had learned about the signs of child abuse and recognized them in her mother. Charlotte was amazed that her daughter had been able to see through the "veil of silence" and felt that her terrible secret was no longer a secret. Someone had heard her "silent cries."
Five years after her divorce, she met a widower and fell in love. She had married him ... he who made her feel loved and safe, finally allowing herself to let someone get close to her.
While the author feels she can never forget the fear and pain of being abused by her father, she learned to survive by building a successful career, and facing new situations, people and experiences. It is her hope that, by sharing these experiences, anyone who has been sexually abused will realize that she or he is not alone and be encouraged by Charlotte's story.
50 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2022
2 people want to read
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