Never Give Up Hope

Nine years ago, if you'd have said
I would be where I am now,
I would have laughed and thought you silly.
How could I escape my living hell?

At nine years old my life turned dark,
Until the age of seventeen
I was a victim of sexual abuse.
It was like living a bad dream.

At seventeen I told the police,
Only to be isolated and pushed aside.
I recanted my statement and returned
To a life of secrets and lies.

It didn't scare my abuser off,
Nor did it change how I felt.
It carried on until I was twenty-one
And I got the courage to walk out.

I struggled so much with my mental health
Over the following years.
I went off the rails and hurt myself
While trying to hide my tears.

One night things went horribly wrong
When I drank and everything went black.
I'd thrown myself off a fifteen foot wall,
Hit the floor and broke my back.

As I plummeted to the ground below,
My life flashed before my eyes.
I thought, "This is it. This is the end."
I thought I was ready to die.

Someone was watching over me that night.
For some reason, my life was saved.
Two days later I left the hospital
With nothing more than a back brace.

I fell deeply in love that day
With a man I knew from work.
He held my hand and smiled at me
Even though I probably looked my worst.

He gave me a home and cared for me
As I recovered from my fall.
He took on my past without regret,
Loved my scars, my charms, and flaws.

Two years later, my wish came true
When I gave birth to a baby girl.
She had beautiful, long, dark hair
And a face that changed my world.

Another year on came my baby boy
With blonde curly hair just like me.
His smile lit up my entire life
And made our family complete.

But a dark cloud hung over our heads.
My past wasn't going to die.
I spiralled into a bad depression
That almost claimed my life.

My children gave me incredible strength
As I spoke to the police once again.
Their investigation unearthed
I wasn't his only victim.

Two others have spoken out,
Because I took the brave step to fight.
My own sister is one of the two.
We stand together to do what's right.

I am twenty six years old now
And ready to start a new life
With my two children and fiance
Who will always be by my side.

Don't be scared to do what's best,
Because there is always a way out.
Take it from me, a survivor,
You can do it. I've no doubts!

My life has taken a turn for the good.
I have my children and a loving home.
If your world is dark right now,
Remember to never give up hope.