“I was just 7 months old when my mother abandoned me. My grandmother took me in and raised me until she passed away when I was 7. My father then took me in, but little did I know, it was the beginning of a new struggle.
My stepmother was cruel and heartless. She would starve me for days, leaving me so weak I’d see darkness in the daylight. I was forced to eat our dog’s leftover food, and when caught, I begged our neighbor not to tell my stepmother, fearing her wrath.
This kind neighbour took pity on me and secretly provided me with food every day. But my stepmother’s cruelty didn’t stop at starvation. She would brutally beat me, apply pepper to my private parts, eyes, armpits, and neck, and then abandon me in the toilet for hours without food or water.
Despite these unbearable experiences, I found solace in my education. I knew it was my ticket out of this nightmare. I worked hard, and my academic excellence earned me love and favour from God and many people.
Today, I stand as a testament to resilience and determination. My stepmother has been trying to reach out to me, but I’m not sure I’m ready to forgive. To my mother, who abandoned me 29 years ago, I want you to know that your daughter has achieved her dreams without your love or support. I am now a strong and independent woman.
I could have chosen to be hateful, bitter, or toxic, but I chose a different path. I chose to rise above my painful past and create a brighter future for myself.”
