@Aviza, your kind words and support mean the world to me right now. Thank you so much.

I need comforting words..... and yes, forgiving my father is a huge step towards healing.

I found that it's really hard to forgive sometimes, especially when the harm is SO great and immense, but I also found that ultimately, forgiveness of another is best for one's own soul and spirit -- that it frees a person of the anger and rage that is held deeply within, perhaps for years and perhaps for a lifetime.

I forgave my father for being such a broken person that he had to do such a horrible thing.