Living in fear (part 2)
- Wendy
- Feb 8, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 1, 2023
We had two sheds on our property. One of them was entirely made of wood, had shingles, a window, and a door. The second shed was also made of wood, but it had more plastic components, including a transparent top half and a roof made of long plastic sheets. The all-wood shed served as storage for items like bikes and lawnmowers, things you'd want to secure. The other shed, while initially intended for use as a patio area, mostly remained unused. The wooden shed ran parallel to the fence, while the other shed extended sideways from the wooden one, overlooking a garden. Between the sheds and the house was the driveway, where my mom parked her large school bus. I understand this description might seem quite detailed, but...
Occasionally, during the early morning paper route deliveries (which had to be completed before school), I would return home at a time when most people were still asleep. My mom would already be awake, preparing for her school bus route, and my dad would be waiting outside. He would listen for my footsteps as I approached the driveway, grab me, and drag me to the wooden shed with his hand over my mouth.
Once he had finished, I had to take a moment to gather myself before going inside the house to prepare for school.
He was the one who consistently concealed himself, observed my actions, and trailed me.
I recall that after my mom's dad passed away, my parents made a trip to Denmark since she was originally from there, and they went home for the funeral and to visit some family. During their absence, the five of us kids were divided among several homes. Some of us stayed with one aunt and uncle, while others were hosted by families from our church. My cousin and I stayed with our aunt and uncle, who had two young boys of their own.
I was assigned to sleep in the basement on a pull-out couch. Despite being in an unfamiliar house, he still found a way to sexually assault me.
I can still recall reaching a breaking point, and I sought solace with my Aunt, tears streaming down my face. Despite the constant threats I had received about not sharing my experiences with anyone, I couldn't contain my desperation. I don't remember the exact details of what I disclosed, but I pleaded for help. I believe that during the remainder of my stay at their place, I was shielded from harm. When my parents returned from Denmark, my Aunt had a conversation with them, although nothing significant seemed to result from that discussion. We all returned home, and life continued as it had before.
I was utterly surprised. Why hadn't they taken any action?
I could only speculate that my parents might have considered this situation as relatively minor compared to all the other issues unfolding within our household.
One of my siblings, the oldest female and second oldest among us, was transitioning into a volatile teenager. The home suffered from numerous damages, and there were frightening incidents involving threats with knives. The police were frequently summoned to our residence. Eventually, she ended up in jail and group homes. Later in life, she battled addiction, resorting to desperate measures like theft and prostitution to fund her drug habit. She had three children, all of whom my parents have been raising since their birth.
My older biological sibling, who was the third oldest among us and the middle child, was diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome. He, too, exhibited behavior that resulted in damage to the house and threats, among other things. Eventually, he was heavily medicated to manage his condition. Over the years, he consistently associated with the wrong crowd who took advantage of him. At times, he resided in group homes, while in other instances, my mom arranged places for him to stay.
Considering the challenges posed by these two siblings, I believe my parents were preoccupied with their actions, which may have caused them to overlook what I was going through.
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