I've been reflecting on my past and how far I've came and couldn't help but cry and feel proud at the same time. My daughter's dedication of Charlie Puth's "I've been through it All", brought on all this..Here's my story..

I was sent to this country, to live with my grandmother when I was 17. The deal was my mom would sign over her rights and grandma would legally adopt me and follow the process to make me a citizen. I started school and got a part time job in a clothing store not to far from the house.

Two weeks from my 18th birthday, 4 months after I've been here, I was woken up at 5am and told to leave. Let me explain why...my best friend/cousin lived 20 mins from us and she invited me over for Thanksgiving dinner since my grandma had to work. There I met lots of her family members and had a great time. We made plans to meet up the following week to go to the mall. My bf couldn't make it but her cousin came over regardless. I told him that she wasn't able to come so I'm not going. He said she had called but he was already in the area and needed to use the restroom. I let him in and told him to make it quick as my grandmother would be home soon and I'm not allowed to have anyone in the house. (It gets rough from here)**

He used the bathroom and came out butt naked, with a hard on. I, naturally started to panic, I had only known him for a couple weeks, we weren't dating and I was a virgin. He forced himself on me, ripping at my clothes and kissing on me. He was so rough and so strong. I just cried and prayed for it to be over soon and it was...the doorbell rang.

My grandmother was at the door with bags and needed me to let her in. When she came in I was sitting in a corner of the room and he walked out half dressed from the bedroom. She completely ignored my tears and assumed I had a man in her house and we were fucking. I begged her to call the cops, telling her he raped me and instead of helping me she kicked me out.

I spent a few long weeks going from my bfs house to the streets of NY before running into her one evening and she told me to come home because she wasn't risking going to jail because it was illegal to kick an underaged child out.

I moved back in and shortly after she threw my stuff out first thing in the morning and said I was of age now, get out, go find a man to marry and give me papers. 😢

A neighbor witnessed the whole thing and helped me pick my stuff up from the sidewalk and took them over to his house. I thought I found my saving grace, he promised to put me on a plane and send me back home, but instead he started coming to my bed at night. This lasted for a few weeks until he introduced me to his "brother", the pimp. I worked some clubs and the apartment for a few months. I met a young lady who introduced me to her sister who took me in and I babysat her kids and cleaned her house for a place to stay. That lasted for 2yrs until I met who I thought was my dream man.

Through all of the struggles I stayed true to my music, I wrote my own songs and I sang in bars and clubs. He promised me a chance and stardom. Again, my world came crashing down as all I got were promises and 3 babies. He never married me and I must've gone to one studio where my body paid for the session.

Ten years came and went, I had given up on music, given up on life and just wanted to go home but now I had babies to take care of. One night while bartending at a friend's bar I met my now husband. He was the only man who didn't approach me in a crass way. He didn't want anything and we became friends. We talked every Thursday when he'd come in and one night I asked him out (story for another time). He said yes and 2yrs later we were married. We've been happily married for 7yrs now and I've been a legal resident since 2015. He pushes me to do my best every single day. He's my biggest supporter. He loves my children as though they're his. In fact their father has been a distant memory to them for all of 7yrs.

My dreams have changed, I don't do music anymore but I earned my bachelor's of science in criminal justice this March and I'm currently enrolled in college and pursuing my masters of science in psychology, forensic psychology. I also just got my first job at chewy warehouse. It's a start and I'm so thankful to have made it this far.

Oh, I now have 5 beautiful, happy, healthy children 😁.

To anyone going through the hard stuff, the downfalls, the closed or rather, slammed doors. It'll be alright. You can make it out, even when you think there's no way out. I believe in you! Thanks for reading!

Sorry... didn't know where to post