Healing has not been easy for me. For many years, I thought surviving meant simply getting through each day. I carried so much fear, hurt and sadness inside me that I didn't know how to begin talking about it. I am still healing, and I know that healing is not something that happens overnight. Some days are harder than others. There are memories and experiences that I still struggle with, and there are times when I feel overwhelmed by everything I have been through. But I am learning that healing can also mean recognising that what happened to me was not my fault. I am learning to be kinder to myself. I am learning that I deserved to be protected as a child, that I deserved to have a choice, and that I deserve to live without fear. My children are a huge part of my reason to keep going. I want to give them the safety, love and stability that I didn't always have growing up. I want them to know that they are valued and that they deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. Speaking about my experiences is also part of my healing. For so many years, I stayed silent because I was frightened and ashamed. Telling my story now is a way of taking back my voice. I am still facing challenges, including my health and the uncertainty that comes with not being able to work at the moment. But I am still here. I am still caring for my children. I am still trying to rebuild. I don't know exactly what the future will look like, but I am beginning to believe that it can be different from my past. For me, healing means finding my voice, learning that I matter, protecting my children, and allowing myself to hope again. I may not be healed from everything I have experienced, but I am healing. And I believe healing is possible.