by S. Mason

Created on: September 07, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Don't talk to strangers. Don't accept candy from strangers. If you're ever approached by a stranger, tell an adult. These were the warnings instilled in young children back in the 1960s. Too bad those adults never warned us about our relatives.

You were my uncle, my father's brother. You were supposed to protect me from people like you. I remember everything you did, particularly that Easter Day when I was just 10 years old. I didn't understand. When you told me it would be just like being your wife, I said "but you have a wife." You replied, "this is different." I still didn't understand. Fortunately, before you were able to penetrate me, Grandma (your mother) came into the yard looking for us. I never saw you jump up so fast. You simply said we were looking for the newspaper, which you picked up (the same newspaper you carried into the yard). Years later I would wonder if Grandma had a suspicion about you and that is why she came looking for us. I hope not.

You said it was okay, but then why did you lie about it? You gave me money and said it was our secret. That little voice in the back of my head was telling me this was wrong, but you were my uncle and said you would never do anything to hurt me. I was so confused. I didn't tell anyone.

During the ensuing years I made sure I was never alone with you again. And as I got older, I realized it was wrong. I still didn't tell anyone.

At Aunt Terry's (your wife) funeral, I cringed when you hugged me. I didn't want to make a scene because of the family. I never saw you after that. Years later I heard you had died. I was glad. The only regret was you died 28 years too late! I hope you suffered before dying.

Your death freed me. I finally felt for the first time I could start to heal. I will never "get over" the abuse, but I have learned to accept it as part of my past. What's done is done and can't be undone. I will not dwell on it. I have made bad choices in order to compensate for my lost childhood; however, each mistake has made me stronger. I have accepted I will never know what I would have been like had I not been abused but I am the person I am today because of it. And it is now I can say that I know I'm not a bad person because I didn't do anything wrong. None of it was my fault as I was too young to understand how evil you were. I was the innocent child.

So you see, Peter, you failed in your pursuit to manipulate and destroy a 10-year-old child for your benefit. I survived it. And now, I can survive anything.

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