It was her secret burden to carry – the thing that always kept her from feeling whole.
Tina’s journey from trauma to freedom reads like a story of survival, strength, and transformation. It all began when she was just seven. Abused by her tutor’s son, Tina buried her pain in silence, too fearful to speak out. Her home was not a place for vulnerability; any attempt to express herself was met with scolding, so she learned to hold her feelings in. Anger simmered inside her, her loneliness the only companion that understood.
Years passed, but the flashbacks and nightmares didn’t. Sometimes, just sitting alone, she felt the presence of her abuser lurking, suffocating her with memories she wished she could forget. It wasn’t until college that Tina’s fog lifted. In her psychology classes, she learnt about PTSD and realized her nightmares and anger were the scars of abuse.
One day, unable to bear the inner noise that felt louder than the bustling streets around her, Tina found herself walking into traffic, desperately seeking an escape from the torment within. Amid the chaos of blaring horns and city noise, she heard a voice of calm within: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Those words became her anchor. For the first time, she believed that despite everything, she was cherished, understood, and never alone. God was close to the brokenhearted — close to her.
This faith helped her shed her fear of judgment. No longer afraid of what others might think, Tina began speaking openly, sharing her story, and building deeper connections. When she met her husband, she found someone who listened without judgment. “It’s not your fault,” he told her. In that simple statement, she found acceptance and peace.
Today, Tina’s past has a purpose. She sees her journey not as a scar but as a beacon for others who suffer in silence. Each time she shares her story, she feels a spark of hope, knowing she’s helping others find their own light in the dark.
