When I was in my teens, we moved…..again. I was used to starting over, but this time, living near my cousins made it easier. One day, we were playing hide and seek with neighborhood kids.
I chose a hiding spot near a friend’s house. That’s when her dad came up behind me. At first, I thought he was joking around. But then, in an instant, I realized this wasn’t part of the game. He crossed boundaries no adult should cross with a teenager.
I tried to move away, but he was stronger. My heart was pounding. I remember feeling frozen—shocked that someone I knew, someone trusted, would treat me that way.
Then hearing another child coming nearby, he let me go. I ran and didn’t look back. I never went to that house again. I never told anyone what happened—because I thought maybe I wouldn’t be believed, or that somehow it was my fault.
It wasn’t my fault. And if something like this has happened to you, it’s not your fault either.
Sometimes danger comes from people you know. Sometimes the person who breaks your trust is the last one you’d expect. That’s why we have to talk about it.
If someone ever crosses a line—whether they use words, touch, or pressure—it is okay to leave, to speak up, and to protect yourself. You deserve to be safe. You deserve to be believed.