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Illustration by Lena Gacek
**Content Warning** This piece discusses violence, including sexual abuse
I'd like to start my story the way it started when I was just six years old. My mom died when I was six. I come from a really big family. There are 13 siblings. Our dad was addicted to alcohol and drugs. He was compulsive and he always lashed out at the women in the house. I was the next-to-last kid at home and sadly, when my mom died, I ended up taking care of my dad. My dad abused me from the time I was about nine until I was 12. Years later, I found out that he was also abusing my younger brother. Continue reading...
