The abuse isn’t the only thing I’m currently hiding from them. I’m hiding my sexuality and the fact that I don’t believe in their religion from them, which they won’t take too well because they are very religious and a little closed minded. I know I’ll be safe, they aren’t going to kick me out or anything like that, but I know it will hurt them badly. I just wanted to be able to be fully open with them after I come out, and the fact that I’ll probably be hiding that secret forever messes with me. I just don’t like the idea of taking secrets to my grave, but I know that the consequences of coming forward won’t be worth it.

My brother doesn’t want to tell anyone about his abuse, but he probably needs to at least talk to a professional, because unlike me, he was completely scarred by what happened. I say my parents are at risk of hurting themselves because they are extremely erratic and impulsive, and are in no way able to handle news like that. My brother’s already unstable, and I know that revealing what he did would push him over the edge. He won’t be back for two more years and we can’t talk to each other about what happened, so he doesn’t know how I’m doing and I don’t know how he’s doing, and that makes it worse.