This is my situation: I have not seen my abuser for approximately six years. My sister is graduating this June and he is invited to her ceremony and party. I have only remembered that it was him for the past six months, so this would be the first time that I am seeing him with the knowledge of what he did to me. I love my sister and I don't want to miss this important event in her life, but the thought of seeing my abuser is terrifying. I have thought about talking to my parents about it, but I have brought it up more vaguely in the past and they thought I was making it up so I could blame my problems on someone else, and I don't think they will respond any better when I tell them who I think it was. I have also thought about going and not saying anything, kind of pretending that things are okay, but my therapist thinks this is a terrible idea and I agree. I don't think my family will support me, but the idea that seems most logical to me at this point is to not go to the event and to tell them the reason. At least this way I am being truthful about my experience and my sister knows that there is an important reason why I am missing this event, and it isn't that I don't care about her, etc. But I don't think I'm strong enough to do this. I have thought about it for months and it does not feel like there is a way for me to resolve this without immense pain for me and possibly others.