I was emotionally, verbally, physically abused by my father. He molested me several times. He beat my mother and brother in front of me, raped my mother twice in front of me. Threatened to shoot us numerous times. He would chase us around with loaded rifles and we'd hide.

I was only 8 or 9 when he raped and beat my mother. I feel guilt like I should have done more. I ran and told the neighbors, but by that time, she was a bloody mess. I should have stayed and done something to make him stop but I was afraid.

He did much, much more. From my earliest memories until I was 17 years old, he was there making everyday a living hell. And there wasn't anything I could do about it back then. It wasn't like today where you could tell a teacher or call authorities. Men were considered head of the household and people didn't talk about what they did.