“I was unhappy there and going through a rough transition, so I was desperate for any friend I could find that I could talk to. I thought that's what he was. We had this secret from my mom, who I didn't like much at the time. It was a harmless secret, so I didn't feel bad about it. All we did was go to the movies and hang out doing fun things all day. It wasn't until much later that the warning signs began, but I was still too young and stupid to see them for what they were at the time. Basically, he was patient as he built up the trust between us. He became a close friend and convinced me that he was on my side somehow. He took total advantage of my ignorance and totally betrayed me a few years later, when he slept with me. After my mom found out, she went psychotic and all she gave a fuck about was what had been done to her. She didn't care about anything except for how hurt she was by what had happened. She blamed me and him equally, telling me that sixteen years old was old enough to know better. Even though I never initiated a goddamn thing with him, and never would have. Even though it happened in the apartment she and I had gotten together, that he was not supposed to be staying in.” PainSadnessAbuseParentingBetrayalMotherhoodParentsMothersChild AbuseMothers And DaughtersGroomingBad ParentingStepfather Book:Speed Needles Source: Speed Needles
“It took me years to stop feeling the guilt she made sure I kept feeling about what happened with him. He is a sick person that molests children, but I felt so bad about it for so long. I couldn't talk to a single person about any of this. No one. And she made me feel so bad about it all that I felt I shouldn't talk about it, even if there was someone. I felt ashamed and thought I was an awful person. Sometimes I still do. My mother abandoned me in the worst ways possible.” PainFamilySadnessAbuseBetrayalMothersAbandonment Book:Speed Needles Source: Speed Needles
“Some people are as angry as they seem to be only because it's the safest place to hide from more pain.” PeoplePainHurtEmotionCompassionSafeAngerTraumaHiding Author:Ashly Lorenzana
“The next time you wish you could find the right words to say to someone who is hurting, just remember that dogs are a man's best friend without ever speaking a word to them. Simply be present and have sympathy.” LovePainLanguageFriendshipHurtComfortEmpathyWordsSympathyPresenceDogsSpeaking Author:Ashly Lorenzana
“We may seem fine, even when the pain remains right there beneath our surface.” MaySeemsPainFineRemainsSurface Author:Ashly Lorenzana
“Most of the pain we feel is nothing more than a story that needs telling.” NeedsFeelsStoriesPain Author:Ashly Lorenzana
