Stories of Resilience

This is my raw and painful account of suffering the most undesirable circumstances a human being could have faced. Abused at a young age until I was subjected as a sex slave, being deceived in my good faith, while trying to get a livelihood for my son. I lived in a hidden world where human evil shows its most atrocious face; but I show the strength to not let myself be defeated, the love for my little son, to embrace him again, to feel his soft face against mine, to see his smile and to fulfill the promise to always take care of him. I know that everything I went through is very painful. We must never give up, forgiveness made me free myself from those chains that for many years enslaved me, I fought against my strongest enemy, my thoughts that constantly attacked me.  I did not let myself be defeated, I loved myself, accepting myself as I am, forgiving myself and those who hurt me, I looked forward, leaving behind a past that I knew would never attack me again, I let go and freed myself.  As I emerged from the darkness the sun shone again. I saw in springtime the trees put on very green leaves, I understood that I could do it too, put on a new beginning, a new chance at life. My thoughts are of my present, harmonious and warm, living a dream come true.  

Luz is a client of the Violence Intervention Program’s Sexual Violence Project

Image Credit: Red Poppy, 1927. Georgia O’Keeffe (United States, 1887 –1986)