To the child who knows what it’s like to feel like the secret keeper of things that were never your secrets to keep, I see you.

To the child who knows what it’s like to witness and experience extreme violence and never feels safe in their own home, I see you.

To the child who wants to tell but is told it will be their fault if anyone knows how bad things are, I see you.

To the child who is blamed for everything when you just tried to get help and safety for yourself, I see you.

To the child who was told the trauma and abuse didn’t kill you and was a test from god to make you stronger or that everyone faces their struggles in life, I see you.

To the child who was been when you tried to speak your truth and was fed a false narrative to minimize and invalidate your truth, I see you.

To the child who has tried to tell people you are struggling, and they change the subject because they can’t hold space for your pain, I see you.

You are not too much, you are not the problem, you are not the one to blame. You just wanted to have your needs met and feel safe. You weren’t the adult in these situations. You deserved to preserve your innocence and  have a happy childhood.

-Future self

Next Chapter: I disrespectfully decline