Responsibility

I still feel responsible for what happened to my family after the sexual abuse was discovered.

I was the victim. I am the survivor. I was the secret keeper.

I could not keep the secret.

I was the one standing between my family and the truth. I could stand no longer. And my family was fractured because of it.

I readily admit that continuing to keep the secret would have killed me. I'm not always sure that would've been a bad thing for my family. Spending this Christmas as a prodigal helped reinforce those feelings.

It is time I accept a different responsibility - I am responsible for trying to mend relationships.

And that starts today.