The Vagabond

Speak out

“If i speak what’s in my mind, people will judge me.” So continued his thoughts and she kept silencing himself.

It had been 100 days, he was in and out of the self imposed coma.

“What, if he tells his  parents, they will say it was all his fault! ”

“What, if he tells his friends, they will think, he had been stupid always!”

The thoughts kept popping in his mind and there was no outlet.

Soon, this will end! How long can this ordeal last.Surely, not life long !

That day he decided he would end this. He couldn’t bear  the pain anymore, so he ran, kept running long after the race was over. He ran till he fell in the middle of the playground.

Everyone thought exhaustion.

No one noticed why he had become so withdrawn?

Years passed, soon that pain was forgotten and hushed into the dark corners of memory.

Since last few weeks, he had been noticing a younger student of his withdrawn and lost.

He tried to befriend him and understand what was troubling him. The more he tried, more away he would push him.

Something was wrong somewhere. He felt like he was watching a mirror.

Slowly, he tried to encourage the boy and open up. He realised, like him he was being sexually assaulted by close family friend.

He could not let silence prevail now. This time he had to let the world know. He had to speak out. He encouraged the boy to reveal to the parents who immediately took steps to stop that person from harassing the young boy anymore. Also, they took him to psychologist who helped him deal with the trauma.

Sexual abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of gender. Sexual abuse in young boys is as common. However, it is much underreported due to the skewed concept of masculinity. Always be open with your kids, and be it boys or girls and let them know the difference between safe and unsafe touch.

Statistics indicate about 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys are victim of child sex abuse. (   https://victimsofcrime.org/media/reporting-on-child-sexual-abuse/child-sexual-abuse-statistics )

Comments such as  “Males don’t cry. Males do not acknowledge pain” make it more likely for them to carry on with the suffering unheard”

So spread awareness and Help someone you can.