You may be going through a difficult time in your life right now. You may feel hurt, abandoned, betrayed, trapped, or desperate. Although you walk through a mass of people everyday, some family, some friends, some coworkers, some acquaintances at Target or Nob Hill, you still may feel utterly alone. You may feel like you could scream at the top of your lungs and no one would hear you. I know because that’s exactly how I used to feel.
You see, I escaped from my “prison” of rape and abuse 22 years ago. That’s when I moved to California to start a new life for myself. I wanted so badly to put it all behind me and never, ever, look back. But what a waste it would be to go through all the pain, isolation, humiliation, depression, and fear that I endured just to stuff it all away and pretend it never happened. Or worse, pretend that it never happens to anyone else.
That’s why I wrote and published my story, To Set A Prisoner Free. To offer hope, encouragement, and healing to a hurting world. And, more importantly, to you. I want you to know that you are not alone. There are compassionate people who have made it their very life’s work to help you. Please don’t make the mistake that I made. You see, I felt too ashamed, embarrassed, afraid, judged, and misunderstood to ask anyone for help. So I never told anyone what I was going through. No one.
Give someone a chance to help, listen, care. And if the first person doesn’t respond the way you want or need them to, then brush of the dust and go to the next person. Don’t stop asking until you find someone who will listen. Your life is too precious to give up hope. You can do it.
Is there anybody out there? The answer is YES! Here are some great resources in our own backyard…
Emmaus House Domestic Violence Shelter: www.emmaushouse.net
Domestic Violence Hotline: 877-778-7978, 636-7224
Community Solutions: www.communitysolutions.org 637-1094
San Benito Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition
email: catherinef@cosb.us phone: 637-5367
Community Food Bank of San Benito County: www.communityfoodbankofsbc.org 637-0340