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Redeemed by Love (A real story of my friend’s trauma and healing) By Sam Yau Laughter fused with the clink of glasses parties unfolded as the sun dipped low but beneath the surface, chaos brewed my parents fought while I absorbed the discord a painful, silent witness to their raging storms As a child, I was handed sips of booze a snapshot of my tiny hands clutching a beer passed around as a joke among family friends My first intoxication arrived at six initiating years of my secret escape a refuge, not in my body but in the haze I dressed well, nice home, nice car but behind closed doors, the truth lay hidden a facade of niceties cloaked the darkness abuse lingered—sexual, emotional a wound carved deeply into my being I blamed myself enveloped by deep shame whispering the devastating lie “I must be a bad girl to be mistreated by my parents who were supposed to love me” Nightmares of falling off a cliff frequently haunted my slumber I would wake up in a panic the moment I hit the bottom soaked in fear, I stayed awake until the time to go to school At thirteen, I had an abortion to avoid ridicule from others I was shipped far away in a hurry By eighteen, I gave birth to my son I felt joy, but intermingled with fear at 18 months old, in a cruel twist of fate my son was in a coma after a car wreck his life support was about to be withdrawn against all odds, he breathed again I was told he might never talk or walk again My childhood nightmare of plummeting off a cliff returned with a vengeance I never finished high school the figure skating dreams long crushed I became a nightclub dancer the only way I figured I could support my son and not lose him I also loved the glamor and attention I returned to the outward appearance of nice house, nice car, nice clothes, and a nurse nanny to take care of my child Inside, I was spinning out of control I was dating the nightclub owner-drug dealer I became deeply addicted to hard drugs I was under constant surveillance by police I was in danger, looking for an exit Continue Reading in the Comments