Archives

Age 16, Highland Ranch, Colorado, USA I was 12 when I first took that blade to your skin. I could hear the grandparents fighting in the background. I had had enough. I used that shiny piece of [...]

Age 19, Connecticut, USA Dear Mama, I wish I could tell you that everything will be alright, like you used to tell me when I was little. Like you used to do when I would run to you all bruised up [...]

Age 14, Chicago, Illinois, USA I struggled to understand why my parents did these things… It started when I was younger, but I grew to realize what I was going through wasn’t okay. My [...]

Age 19, Connecticut, USA Dear Middle Sister, I am so sorry. I should have protected you more than I did. I should have been wary of everyone around. It started out as any other day. Except this [...]

Age 13, United Kingdom Dear Past Me, When I was thirteen I decided to ruin our lives. It all started simple enough, scratching my stomach—it only left irritated marks on my skin. It didn’t [...]

Age 15, Georgia, USA When I was younger, I was in a sexually and physically abusive relationship. I was scared of love. Scared of men. Scared of myself. I started hurting myself at age 11, not [...]

Age 15, Missouri, USA To 15 year old me, I forgive you. She hit you and held you against that wall. Still, you stayed. And for that I forgive you. She cheated and flirted with other girls. Still, [...]

Age 17, San Diego, California, USA To My 17-Year-Old Self: I was supposed to protect you. We didn’t have a lot of reliable people around and it was my job to protect you. When I opened your [...]

Dear Mother: Every time you told me that I was worthless, you chipped at my self-esteem. Every time you laughed at me, made fun of me, compared me to my sister or a neighbor or a friend, you [...]

Age 13, Pennsylvania The first time my older sister abused me was three or four years ago. She would beat me over and over again for the stupidest things. I saw through her, though. I knew she [...]