Before the Words
Before the harm was named,
I was already living inside it.
Too young to understand,
too small to explain,
I reacted to what was being done to me.
And for that—I was blamed.
I was too young
to carry such weight.
I was labeled.
I responded,
a child lost in a tangled web
of what I could not name,
what had been done to me
but could not be understood.
And you,
Mother,
you had to hold that too—
the pain of seeing your child
become the one in the wrong,
when all the while
I was the one who needed saving.
Did you recognize what had happened?
Did you ever know?
Prism Of Light ~ Website Submission, Unsigned
The Evil Among Us
Dear Mom,
We felt the music,
We shined in the spotlight,
We walked along the river.
You helped slay my adversity,
You showed me how to be strong,
And we carried style and poise into the arena.
But Mom,
There was evil among us.
Mother,
You trusted—
A face you knew,
A smile you believed.
You said yes,
Though something tugged at you,
Something whispering.
But you let it go.
And I,
So young,
Watched it all.
I saw the moment,
Saw the hesitation,
Felt the unspoken skepticism—
But I said nothing.
I knew,
In the way a child knows
Without understanding.
I watched,
Silent,
As the trust was given.
I carry the memory
Of that day,
Of what happened,
Of what wasn’t spoken.
And I carry the ache—
That endless, unanswered ache—
Of all that remains unsaid.
Prism Of Light ~ Website Submission, Unsigned
The Light You Left Behind
I tried to smile.
Power through.
Reach for the light.
But the darkness was always there—
A veil of blame,
Of ridicule,
Of indifference.
But I know this,
With certainty:
You were not the cause of the harm.
You were not the one who stole my peace,
Or took away my choice.
You were a victim too,
Caught in a web spun by others.
I speak now,
For both of us,
And I find the truth
In the light you left behind—
Still shining,
Still finding its way home.
Prism Of Light ~ Website Submission, Unsigned
The Power of Voice: Healing Beyond Silence and Embracing Freedom
Refraction: Shadow → Spectrum
At Prism of Light, we’ve listened to many stories—each one unique in detail, yet profoundly unified by a quiet, powerful truth: for many survivors of abuse, the deepest yearning isn’t for a courtroom verdict or a financial payout.
It’s for something far more personal.
Far more profound.
It’s the freedom to speak.
For years, survivors have been told to stay silent.
To not make waves.
To protect reputations, families, institutions.
To let it go. Move on. Stay quiet.
This pressure doesn’t only come from abusers.
It echoes through communities, traditions, workplaces—even well-intentioned healing spaces.
That enforced silence becomes its own kind of harm—
a wound that festers in the dark.
But survivors don’t want to remain in the shadows.
They want to name what happened without being met with shame.
They want to speak without fear of retaliation or disbelief.
They want to live in their truth and still be safe.
Still be whole.
Still be believed.
And they deserve that.
At Prism of Light, we believe every survivor should have the freedom to tell their story—
not for spectacle, not for validation, and certainly not for judgment,
but for liberation.
Because speaking out can be a powerful act of reclaiming—
voice, body, spirit.
But let’s be clear:
Not every survivor can, or wants to, share their story publicly.
And that, too, is power.
Choosing when, how, and with whom to speak is sacred.
Silence can be a boundary.
Privacy can be protection.
Autonomy means having the choice.
Still, something is shifting.
We are witnessing a cultural refraction—
a bending of what was once buried in shadow into a full spectrum of truth.
Every voice that rises makes space for another.
Every truth spoken weakens the systems that once insisted on silence.
We are not here to sensationalize pain.
We are here to honor truth.
To hold space where stories are not just heard, but respected.
To light the path from shadow to spectrum.
Because healing isn’t about “moving on” or proving worth in courtrooms or compensation.
Too often, monetary settlements are weaponized to demean survivors—
as if naming harm is about bitterness or greed.
As if survival itself must come with a cost.
But healing?
Healing is reclamation.
Healing is voice.
Healing is freedom.
Voices of Light | Bearing the Light Through Silence and Scales
(Image: Prism of Light, 2025)
Some wounds shape a lifetime, touching not only the survivor but the world they navigate. Today, we honor a survivor whose courage endures despite betrayal. As a minor, she was assaulted by a relative who deceived others to isolate her. A false narrative then blamed her, twisting her trauma into complicity. Though legal recourse has timed out, her story reveals the legal, emotional, and systemic challenges survivors face, calling us to support and protect the vulnerable.
The Legal Weight of Betrayal
This assault was a grave crime—sexual assault of a child, potentially kidnapping, and incest—carrying severe penalties like decades or life in prison. The deception negated consent, and the perpetrator, as a relative, betrayed familial trust. Had it been prosecuted, they’d face lifelong sex offender registration. Though time bars justice here, these laws affirm the sanctity of a child’s safety.
The Silencing of a Voice
A false narrative cast the survivor as complicit, exploiting societal biases to silence her. Threats of public scrutiny deepened her fear, while her youth led her to question if the abuse was her fault. Such manipulation compounds trauma, fostering shame and isolation (Ullman & Filipas, 2001). Her desire to shield younger relatives from stigma further silenced her, a quiet sacrifice reflecting her strength.
Why Would Someone Do This?
Child sexual assault stems from power and control, not care. The abuser’s deception and silencing tactics exploited trust and family dynamics. Cultural silence around abuse enables such acts, as seen in cases like Wanda Barzee and Ghislaine Maxwell, who used manipulation to facilitate harm. Awareness is key to breaking this cycle.
Protecting and Healing
To prevent abuse and support survivors:
Teach Boundaries: Ensure children know abuse is never their fault.
Spot Manipulation: Recognize grooming and victim-blaming tactics.
Create Safe Spaces: Foster environments where survivors are believed.
Provide Resources: Connect survivors to counseling and advocacy like RAINN.
The Silent Timelines of Healing
Healing from sexual abuse unfolds over a lifetime, shaped by emotional and systemic barriers. For this survivor, pursuing justice risks re-traumatization, family stigma, and physical harm from loyal relatives, deepening her isolation. Speaking out can feel impossible, especially when others pressure or doubt her.
If someone coerces the survivor on a phone call or text to share her story or disbelieves her, pushing her to defend herself by speaking, this can re-traumatize her, forcing her to relive the abuse and worsening PTSD. Being doubted is especially painful, compelling her to share details she wasn’t ready to disclose to prove her truth, which risks further emotional harm. Warning: Share your story only with trusted sources, like therapists or support groups, to avoid emotional harm or PTSD re-traumatization.
To protect herself, she can:
Set Boundaries: Clearly state her limits and end conversations if pressured or doubted.
Seek Safe Spaces: Share in confidential settings, like therapy or advocacy groups, where her voice is believed and supported.
Access Support: Connect with resources like RAINN for counseling and guidance to rebuild her sense of agency and heal from the pain of disbelief.
These steps empower her to reclaim her voice on her terms, safeguarding her emotional well-being and honoring her resilience.
A Final Note
To survivors: Your healing transcends legal limits. Your truth is a beacon, and we honor your courage. Speak when ready, in safety, with compassion surrounding you.
Resources
RAINN: 1-800-656-HOPE, rainn.org
Childhelp: 1-800-422-4453
Herman Law: hermanlaw.com
FindLaw & Justia: State-specific legal guides
Citations
Ullman, S. E., & Filipas, H. H. (2001). Journal of Traumatic Stress, 14(2), 369–389.
Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. Consult an attorney before acting, and prioritize safety when sharing your story.