Thank you so much..."Today is the happiest day in my life. Now, I am independent and going to get married to this perfect guy. Even though I never expected, finally the day almost every fairy tale I heard end with came. I never thought I would be laughing again. Sometimes I will be having flashes from my past, but they don’t send fear all through my body anymore. To tell my story short, I was six; he touched me inappropriately and started telling things I didn’t understand. I never felt comfortable around him. I didn't tell anyone for some days and when I finally did half didn't believe me and half didn't want to. My mother made me stop going to school for some days. Then she never allowed me to play outside. That incident might be very little to the people around or just a little fun to my abuser, but my eyes always sparkled full of fright every time I heard someone behind me, and I always used to get an irresistible urge to hit anyone who happens to touch me unexpectedly. Meanwhile, my father got transferred and we were joined in a new school. I was so happy. But, then after some years I met another demon who started molesting me again, I didn’t tell at home as I knew the price my mother would make me pay. But, that time I wasn’t alone either. My friends helped me. Together we gathered and informed about him to the local news channel. They alerted police and came to school with the child helpline. He lost his job. Instead of appreciating us for our bravery, people scolded us for making him lose his job. That day I understood community given more importance than a human. From then on, People whispers with strange stares never stopped and many people avoided me after labeling as trouble. Also was expelled from school. My mother also started scolding me and said I was defamed in the society and not going to get married. They started homeschooling me. I felt why I had complained against him. And one summer day while I was going to groceries, demon abducted me in a van. That was a nightmare. When I went back home, I didn’t tell anybody and had no clue of how to tell. My mother applied an ointment to a bruise on my hand. I thought would she still treat me the same way if I told her what had happened. Then in the evening he came, asking my hand for marriage and told my parents the truth. They cried and agreed for not to get my siblings future disturbed. I was wondered why I couldn't just let myself die. Then they said my life already ended and warned me what everybody going to say about my character if I die. In the name of justice, they legally gave him permission to rape me every day. “You are of age and you would respond to it”, community heads said. Would these big people react the same way when things happen to their wives and daughters was all I ever wanted to ask? Innocently and reluctantly I entered hell. I was not allowed to go out. Neither I could ask for money nor talk to anyone. I was an object to dump all his emotional baggage with ruthless words and actions. I always wanted to ask him, "Why, why me?" With days, I thought being dead is the best thing and while I was contemplating suicide, on one long painful night demon whispered in my ears that he wish I was dead. I was angry and frightened. Then it struck me, why should I die? Why should I stay paralyzed and live with fear and shame? What sin did I commit? Unable to bear the torture, I ran away to my parents. Society blamed me again like I did something unforgivable. But I wasn’t silent and they heard my voice that time. The way they were expecting me to live was the life I had to live and I didn’t need their pity, I wanted them to stop humiliating me. I am not a sin. I wanted justice and my justice was his punishment. They warned me not to take it to the court as they might turn down my case against him from lack of proper evidence. And even with evidence, they said it would take lot of time at court to get justice and I would be hopeless after one stage as there is no point of getting judgment after I die or get old. And there would be no escape from memories that haunt me either as I had to remember everything, every small detail to testify against him until final judgment. Then my father also convinced me that he could not leave his job to go to the court every time and it will jeopardize my family. But they didn’t understand, he was still out there, that demon was still out there and knew where I live. I didn’t want to live in constant fear. They silenced me with their words, but not the fire in my heart. Why should I have to hide? Why does it have to affect me for the rest of my life? Why do I have to feel guilty and ashamed? He should be the one who has to feel all those emotions, not me? I cried silently screaming inside. Movies, campaigns, all sorts of awareness programs, laws came. But, nothing has changed over time. Amidst those fears and questions born my desire to do something meaningful in my life and I started dreaming again for a new life. I couldn’t live like that anymore as I am done being weak. I am done praying to set me free. I didn’t want to be left out with pain and suffering. I started studying. After some days, community heads and my parents wanted me to get marry again. I wasn’t willing and ready. “You have no idea about what society going to tell if you reject this proposal. How will you survive? It is hard for somebody to marry you. It’s god’s grace that he offered his hand.” Was what my mother said. They always thought about society and their comments. If these loud mouth people cannot ignore me, I can ignore them. They wanted me to marry any first person who offers me his hand. They didn’t understand when something happens again I didn’t want to go back to my parents, AGAIN. What if there comes a day where I couldn’t go to anybody? I am not a sin. But a fellow human and I have equal rights to live like them. I didn’t want to end up a mess. I didn’t want my scars to take charge of my life and mask my identity. I didn’t want to talk with fear, but confidence. I wanted to live with freedom even at the cost of my death. I cried enough. Humiliation doesn’t hurt me anymore. Rape and domestic violence are not my identities. I want to survive with pride and respect and education was the only way and I told them that I applied to one institute and they were offering me a scholarship. I didn’t want to miss the chance. “You would be alone” my father shouted. It is not new that I am alone. My mother worried about my safety in a new place which I had to go for my studies. That made me laugh, “I grew up in a safe environment always covering from head to toe and never stepped out of house without their permission. What for? What that left me? What else left to be afraid of? I got nothing to lose. I was already a living corpse. Death doesn’t fear me. But not standing up for myself would have defiantly intensified my pain. I left home to let happiness to overtake my pain. Then after a year at college, strange whispers and stares started again, I couldn’t understand what it was. Slowly through roommate I got the news that there was a sex video of me out there. Demon uploaded it. I froze and I couldn't believe that it was really going on. My mind shut off completely. Some voice inside me said to be strong and fight him off. I filed a complaint against him and they did what they could. I was also enrolled in therapy sessions to help me come to terms over it. It was a struggle every day. "