06/18/2026
I was s*xually abused by my father, my brother, a preacher at church, and at age 13, my mother made me marry a 43 year old man.
My story involves so many people and experiences. My mother was instrumental in putting me in rooms alone, with several men, at separate times. When I was 13, my mother gave my husband permission to have his way with me and my baby sister, who also had a child by him. I am 77 years old now, and I have written my story in poetry form: “SURVIVING the INSANITY” by Naomi R. Butler Arthur. "I am 24 hours old. The world is new, bright and safe. While I lie here, cradled in my mother’s arms. While we rest in this old brass bed, while this worn quilt keeps us warm. I know I am safe in my mother’s arms. I am 3 now, and the world I once thought safe, is cold, cruel and ugly. My mind and my body are wracked with pain, but I feel no pain. I find solace and serenity in another world, outside this room, on the other side of the window that I stare through. I think of happier times. Now, I am 5. I feel nothing. I do not belong. Who am I? Why am I different? I can write my name, aren’t I smart? 7 whole years of my life, have come and gone. I try hard to do what is right, ‘cause I will be punished if it is wrong. I am 9. I have a friend across the lot! She’s much older than I. She is married and has a child, but I don’t think she’s much happier than I. I make her laugh. It’s good to be liked. 12, I’m growing up! Same old stories though. The men all like me, and say I am beautiful. They want to take me to their bed. Why do all the guys like me? I am so young. A new man has come into our lives, he’s 43. He’s my mother’s friend. He is arrogant and cold, and, I don’t like him. He says he is a man of God but, it’s me that he wants.
He likes my long red hair, and my youth. I am only 13. His hand goes down my shirt, as I lie taking a nap. Where is Mom? Why doesn’t she stop him? Fear is not new to me but, this is different. I think this is terror. I want to run but no place to hide, no friends to help me. I feel trapped, like a bird in a cage. I’ve locked myself in the bathroom - a barricade against the world. Leave me alone, please, just leave me alone. But this is what my mom wants, I have no choice. I must marry him, she knows what’s best. Lies. Deceit. Secrecy. Court house. Marriage license. I’m with child. My brother hates me, he wanted me first. Others were before him and after, but this is forever. “Love. Honor. Obey.” “What God has joined, let no man put asunder.” “For better, for worse, till death we do part.” I am 28 now. I could have died. He wanted to kill me, he tried to kill me. 60 days behind bars he went, I have 60 days to free myself. Ah! At last, the state has granted my freedom. Where has the time gone? It must have been a bad dream. Can’t be! Because I see 5 sets of beautiful eyes, looking back at me. They’re all counting on me to get them through this hell. I must not fail them. They’ve been through enough. I must succeed. I must live for them. 22 more years have come and gone. I have known pain and fear, despair and hopelessness, anger and tears. But the emotion that overwhelms me most, is the blessedness I feel. Because I overcame it all, and live a new day, every day. I have survived to tell the story of love, hope, joy and strength, in this new world in which I now live. I’m no longer cradled in my mother’s arms, in that old brass bed, under that worn, old quilt that kept us warm. But no one can hurt me now, because I have survived the worst of it all!”
You can help a child protect themselves from abusers, by gifting them a FREE Tell Somebody book! 📚 gofundme.com/GiveAFreeBook
Child abusers, please stop and seek therapy and God.
Parents, talk with and believe your children. ❤️
Survivors, seek therapy. 💪🏽
(To share your story of abuse, message me)
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