Following the Prompt for Hour 12 (2020 – Half) using Deborah Duffield’s memoir: “Imprisoned in a Body with a Life Sentence” (abuse survival). {TRIGGER WARNING!!}

Life began at age 3 –
but only with 1/2 of the glee;
It began with a pain,
I could not foresee.

Now I know,
where I shouldn’t be –
Pain teaches the most
to me;

And I learn all the ways,
That I cannot be myself.

Can I help myself?
Only lifetimes later;
Because ONE person,

Noticed the most,
And,
finally listened to me.

“My life began at age 3 1/2.”
“I know now most of the ways to help myself.”

——————————————————-
Support links (Canada, USA, Australia):
1. https://crcvc.ca/for-victims/services/ 🇨🇦
2. https://www.removingchains.org/resources/usa-hotlines 🇺🇸
3. https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/topics/child-abuse-and-neglect/resources 🇦🇺

🖤 BLM:
+ http://blackchildlegacy.org/resources/child-abuse-and-neglect/

* 🌎 Global crisis line: https://yourlifecounts.org/find-help/
* National Resources: https://www.thehotline.org/resources/
* https://isurvive.org/helpful-resources/abuse-survivor-resources-usa-canada/

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ: https://www.loveisrespect.org/is-this-abuse/abusive-lgbtq-relationships/

🙅🏻🙅🏾‍♂️ Men (male victims):
+ https://aasas.ca/support-and-information/men-and-sexual-assault/

~ This list is not exhaustive. Keep safe, reach out. You and your future are worth the recovery.