My Daughter

Smiles, humor, and independent. That is how I would describe my daughter at 5 years of age. She challenged those around her and had a strong sense of self. She was popular with her classmates and with classmates of her two siblings. In her journal she wrote and illustrated stories. Once she created a new line to a Raffi song with the words, “Did you ever see a giraffe, having a calf down by the bay?” She then drew a picture of a giraffe giving birth and you could see the baby coming out bottom first from the mother. Her warmth and self assuredness continued into first grade, but by second grade they began to fade. By third grade it had almost disappeared and by fourth, undiagnosed illnesses started to fill her life. She turned dark and no one could explain it. I asked her and talked with her, but she revealed nothing.

Now I know what happened. He took away her light. He took away her self esteem and replaced it with his sex and desire to control. He raped her not only of her childhood, but also of her life. His control squashed her spirit and continues to haunt her life these many years later. She mourns and I mourn. He mourns not for he still hold control over the other daughters and admits nothing.