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It's a sad tale.
We were best friends during the first few years of elementary school and inseparable. She was the brightest girl in the class with the highest marks. Spoke several languages fluently and her future seemed bright.
Her family moved away in grade 3 but we stayed in touch. Then, she dropped out of sight. I heard from her again during high school. When I heard from her again during university, she was going through a tough period. She indicated that she had been adopted and that her mother had been abusive. She had found her birth mother and it was a very tragic and sad tale.
We lost touch with each other after that and I heard from her this week. I went to visit her. Life has been fare from kind. Now I would never get the better homes and gardens seal of approval but it was clear from the appearance of her home, herself and her husband that something was not write. Dished piled in the sink, dust everywhere, the Christmas tree was still in the corner of the room...a real tree. The husband looked old and dishelved. I had brought Jamaican food to share with her. I wanted to turn away in horror but I didn't. The place was so unkempt that it was difficult for me to eat it but, I ate it.
Life has not been kind to her. She finally told me about the physical and sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her adoptive family, her adoptive mother's attempts to confuse her because she had memories from before her adoption. I asked her how she had managed to do so well in school. She said "It was the only place I was safe." It took her a while but she did manage to get an education and career. Her husband has severed health problems (hence his appearance). Eventually, all of the pressure became too much for her and she had a breakdown. She is reaching out. If the shoe was on the other foot, I would want her to respond to me with compassion. It isn't going to be easy. It's not the type of place I usually like to go, but I must give her support and encouragement in this dark hour. It's going to be tough.
Anyone else experience anything similar. How did you find the strength to do what you knew was right?
We were best friends during the first few years of elementary school and inseparable. She was the brightest girl in the class with the highest marks. Spoke several languages fluently and her future seemed bright.
Her family moved away in grade 3 but we stayed in touch. Then, she dropped out of sight. I heard from her again during high school. When I heard from her again during university, she was going through a tough period. She indicated that she had been adopted and that her mother had been abusive. She had found her birth mother and it was a very tragic and sad tale.
We lost touch with each other after that and I heard from her this week. I went to visit her. Life has been fare from kind. Now I would never get the better homes and gardens seal of approval but it was clear from the appearance of her home, herself and her husband that something was not write. Dished piled in the sink, dust everywhere, the Christmas tree was still in the corner of the room...a real tree. The husband looked old and dishelved. I had brought Jamaican food to share with her. I wanted to turn away in horror but I didn't. The place was so unkempt that it was difficult for me to eat it but, I ate it.
Life has not been kind to her. She finally told me about the physical and sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her adoptive family, her adoptive mother's attempts to confuse her because she had memories from before her adoption. I asked her how she had managed to do so well in school. She said "It was the only place I was safe." It took her a while but she did manage to get an education and career. Her husband has severed health problems (hence his appearance). Eventually, all of the pressure became too much for her and she had a breakdown. She is reaching out. If the shoe was on the other foot, I would want her to respond to me with compassion. It isn't going to be easy. It's not the type of place I usually like to go, but I must give her support and encouragement in this dark hour. It's going to be tough.
Anyone else experience anything similar. How did you find the strength to do what you knew was right?
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