I’m 21, but I have gone through SO much in my short lifetime. I have survived my own mother knowingly dating a registered sex offender, and then I was the next victim at 12 years old. I was sexually abused for months.
She made my WHOLE family hide his past, so they are also complicit in what eventually happened to me. He did go to prison for me for 2 years, though. I have a very messy relationship with my mother and in general, I didn’t have a good upbringing. I have considered permanently cutting contact with her.
To be clear, she broke up with him immediately after I came out about my abuse.
At 14 years old, I found out that a boy I had a crush on was accused of touching multiple 8-year-old girls. He did it 1 year before I found out about it.
My mom is married to a new man, and I used to be fond of his uncle. This uncle seemed like a decent guy, too. I then found out that my older cousin and several other people were victims of him molesting them as children.
I eventually found out that my own granduncle had touched kids. I only found out after his death and my nan and grandaunt were his victims. My nan not only hid his past but brought generations of children around him like he was a normal guy. I used to hug him a lot and thought he was a good uncle.
Fast forward to me being 19 years old and escaping home to live in a homeless shelter. Even now, I live in another type of shelter.
Multiple men in this building are accused of sexually assaulting women. A roommate and former good friend of mine is ALSO accused of SAing someone.
He’s autistic and didn’t fully understand consent outside of literal language such as a direct “yes” or “no.” He proceeded to end up assaulting somebody because he did not understand basic human social norms, and clearly, nobody gave him the consent talk.
He literally does not understand human language outside of extremely literal speech, but I’m still pissed off. Bro should have permanent caretakers if a grown-ass man can’t understand consent.
I’m told I’m taking other people’s assaults to heart, but I’m so fucking tired of everything. I’m SO tired of finding out that people I trust are actively harming women and children.
I’m too poor to find a place that is guaranteed to be safe to live. I’m on welfare and a mentally disabled person myself.
Part of me feels like life isn’t worth it anymore.