I’m a lady (22y), and I need advice regarding something that happened when I was 8 (fourteen years ago). I was s£xually abu$ed by a family friend for a while (a female). Our families are pretty close-knit because my dad and hers went to university together. They have basically been best friends for more than 45 years. I remember being so young and just knowing that what was happening to me was going to change me in ways I couldn’t understand or imagine. The abu$e went on for a while and finally stopped when she was ready to let me be. I never spoke about it because I knew how it could damage the friendship on their end. They are basically family. My mum would talk about them, and I would get mad, but I had to bottle it up. I just didn’t want her to know.
I didn’t want any fights or arguments because of me. Today, I come off as secretive and always defensive. I’ve started therapy for some other issues, and this whole thing kind of popped up. I haven’t confronted my abu$er or told my parents either because I don’t know how I can tell my mom that her baby was abu$ed till she lost her virginity at 8/9 due to family she trusted. It’s so heartbreaking. I initially decided I was going to take it to the grave, but I’m having mixed feelings. If I do open up, maybe she’ll understand me better. Should I never bring it up? What do I do?