The Passenger

A strange thing happened to me last week. I had just come out of the drugstore and gotten into my car when the door suddenly opened and a woman got into the backseat. I swung around and was about to tell her that my yellow car wasn't a taxi and ask her to leave when …

Hanima’s Story

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com How much longer can I take the abuse? He says he loves me but then, he gets into a rage for no reason and beats me. My body is hurting right now. I don't know how much more of this I can take. Is it my fault for marrying …

Saturday Morning

Weeks had passed and by now his hair had grown back at the sides. It was early Saturday morning. He hadn't slept well and after tossing and turning, he decided to get up. The sun had just risen. He shaved and took a long shower before fixing himself breakfast. After he ate, he washed up …

No Education Leads to Risk of Child Marriage

Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com On March 23, 2022, the first school year here in Afghanistan, I was excited about returning and eagerly looked forward to seeing my classmates and teachers again. I along with other students showed up bright and early only to find the doors closed and armed Taliban guards. My heart sank. …

Thankful…For What?

Getty Image It's Thanksgiving. What do I got to be thankful for? Another year of abuse from a man who's no good? Should I be thankful that I lost another baby cause he knocked me about and that child going to see its father beat its mother like other kids do? Should I be thankful …

Vengeance

PHOTO PROMPT © Ted Strutz She looked at the water longingly.  Should she do it?  The temptation was overwhelming.  Gripping the rail, she imagined how she would do it.  It had to look like an accident.  Then, she remembered, “…never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God, for he has said that he will repay those …

Orphanage Tourism

Did you know that most children in orphanages aren't really orphans? According to research done by Research by UNICEF up to 75% of children kept in orphanages in Cambodia and Nepal are not even orphans. Many of the children come from poor rural families and are trafficked into orphanages because their parents feel this will give …

No Longer Amish

I screamed but no one heard me. They couldn't. My screams were silent--inside. I screamed because my husband dragged me across the floor over to the bed where he raped me. He had raped me before. The first time he did, I got pregnant but miscarried. When I told my parents about the first rape, …

Battered Women

Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) is an organization dedicated to freeing and liberating women from violence and empowering the community through training and education programs. The organization has been providing counseling and healing spaces for victims of abuse for over 35 years and helping women to be strong and resilient through advocacy, law reform and …

Spousal Abuse

“When it comes to abuse, you believe there’s no way out. There is always help. There is always a way out.” ― Rev. Donna Mulvey It’s hard to believe that Christian women are in abusive marriages but it is true. “Bible verses are often used to justify domestic abuse, such as those that refer to male …