Abuse/Abusing

They talked about the various kinds of abuse and then first a man spoke on behalf of fathers, husbands and sons who have abused us and then a woman on behalf of mothers, wives and daughters, naming the ways they might have abused and apologizing. I cried almost right away when the “father” spoke but I didn’t cry when the “mother” started speaking until she said, “I touched you in ways I shouldn’t.” I don't remember my mother touching me inappropriately, but there certainly was a lack or violation of boundaries that my psychiatrist agrees was a form of sexual abuse.

There was almost always a point at which I would begin crying with each topic and each time, it was a clue to me of where my pain is and perhaps the source behind the pain but already I’m forgetting so much of what happened.