That's a lie, my friends. As a reader tells us below, nothing can reach deeply enough to damage the value and beauty we have hidden within.
I am now 14 years old, and I have been through a lot..
When I was 5, I was touched by my cousin, and not in a very good way. It continued for 8 years, and I didn't do anything about it, because I didn't really know what it was.
When I was 9 years old, a similar thing happened. I didn't tell anyone about it because I was embarrassed to. I was mocked and criticized by all my friends and even the teachers because I was so thin, and that I'll "fly away" if the wind blows too hard. So I started to fit in, and be like everybody else because I was scared of not being accepted.
I started judging people, being mean to them, things I can't think of doing now. And then everybody started being mean to me for no reason, people started abandoning me and ignoring me even though I cared a lot for them and was always there for them.
Nobody knows the truth.
No one.
Not my parents, family, friends, or best friends.
I don't want them to know me in that way. I guess that's why I haven't told anyone, aside from the fact that I'm scared about how they'll react.(Is that right?)
But what I've learned is that the past doesn't matter. The future is spotless, and that anything is possible.
And no matter how mean people can be, it really doesn't say anything about you; it says everything about them. And I've also learned that everybody should be who they are, and wear what they like, and not care if they're fat or skinny, because true beauty lies within.
A word of love for the writer of this message:
You are wise beyond your years, my friend, and I am touched by your willingness to reach out and help others. My heart aches when I think of the shame and pain you've endured quietly. You are so right when you say that your circumstances say more about them than about you. I've heard your story, and I see nothing dirty or shameful about you. I see a strong young lady who has had the courage to endure things that should never happen to a little girl.
Reaching out and talking about it is the first step of real healing. My advice to you is to tell a trusted adult. You need to find someone who can help guide you through the healing process. It may be painful at first, but every time you go to heal wounds, it hurts. Don't worry. The ugliness of what was done to you is not a reflection of who you are. You are strong. You have the true beauty of compassion inside you. You can do this.
I'm sending you hugs, my friend. Stay strong.