Abuse inflicted separation within
Pathways of the brain exploded
Emotional development stopped
Intellectual comprehension required sustained effort
Any external threat froze my speech
Emotional, mental capabilities shattered like glass
 
I pretended to be normal
All polished on the outside
And broken within
Coming full circle into personhood had been impossible
 
Now it is time for me to stand up, speak out
My years of struggle bind my broken pieces
into strength, resoluteness and fearlessness
I have created a path forward
Now my wholeness lights the way
 
 
 
Commentary on “Broken”
 
It was a dinner conversation.  A friend was trying to comprehend the pains and difficulties of my journey.  I described some of the ways my being sexually abused affected my beingness.  It is hard to describe and even harder to live.  Creating my wholeness took 68 years.  If I think about that too long I cry.  I can only look forward with the light.  

​“
​Child sexual abuse includes a wide range of sexual behaviors that take place between a child and an older child or adult.  These sexual behaviors are intended to erotically arouse the older person, generally without consideration for the reactions or choices of the child and without consideration for the effects of the behavior upon the child.
 
Behaviors that are sexually abusive often involve bodily contact, such as sexual kissing, touching, fondling of genitals, and oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse.  However, behaviors may be sexually abusive even if they do not involve contact, such as in the case of genital exposure (‘flashing’), forcing children to watch pornography, verbal pressure for sex, and sexual exploitation for purposes of prostitution or pornography.
 
Researchers estimate that, in our country, about 1 out of 6 boys and 1 out of 4 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18.”  (emphasis by R.P. Fitton)