Surviving the Silence: My Journey from Abuse to Empowerment

By Olivia Harper • January 29, 2026 • Share

I was 3 when it started and 16 when it ended. Six men in my family sexually abused me and I was taped at 16 in my bed. I ran from that assault at 16 but was afraid to fight back when I was younger.

My mother passed away when I was 6 and my father worked crazy hours to pay the mortgage. My grandmother was my primary caregiver and she did not care for me, she allowed it. My father almost died when I was 10 and because of his disability I said nothing to anyone until I was 14.

But because I didn’t want to leave my home, I told the counselors it had stopped and they were gone. In reality, I learned to stay away from my home by staying busy at school in sports and activities.

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