So, I grew up with an abusive brother who is 8 years older than me. Beat me up all the time. Snuck into my room at night and held a pillow over my face, crazy brother.

So when I was in kindergarten, he was in 7th or 8th grade and was a fuck-up. So naturally, when Open House night came he had no intention of telling my mom. But I, being still new and excited about school, made sure to give my mom the note my teacher sent home about it.

She went and found out he was getting into trouble with his teachers and he took it out on me. He beat me with a wire coat hanger. I had bruises down my legs from ass to calves.

Of course my mother saw and lost it, demanding to know who had done this. I was afraid to tell the truth, so I lied. I said a kid at school who was a known bully beat me up with a stick. She called the school and I had to tell my lie to the principal. He calls the innocent kid down, I know I'm lying, but think my brother might really smother me in my sleep if I tell the truth. I maintain the lie and the innocent kid got suspended.

I told my mom the truth last year, 30 years later. We were talking about how he treated my niece's mom and she said, "Well you know he had a history of hitting women." So, I said yeah and told her what really happened. She was pretty shocked.

But I still remember the confusion on that kids face that day. It still haunts me.