Child sexual abuse doesn’t always come from strangers lurking in the shadows. More often than not, it comes from the very people entrusted to protect and care for children. Research confirms this painful truth: 93% of child sexual abuse perpetrators are known to the victim’s relatives, neighbors, family friends, or caregivers. Only 7% are strangers. This is the reality we must face if we are to protect children and support survivors. Today, we share the story of Alice, a girl whose life was forever changed by abuse within her own family.
A Hope for a Better Life
Alice was raised by her loving single mother, who worked tirelessly to give her daughter a good life. For a while, Alice stayed with her grandparents in the village, but as she grew older, her mother decided to bring her to the city, believing this would give Alice better opportunities. In the city, Alice lived with her uncle and his family. Because she didn’t speak the local language, she couldn’t start school immediately. It took nearly a year before she could begin formal education. Sadly, during that time, Alice’s mother passed away from an unknown illness. Her only constant source of safety and love was gone. Now fully absorbed into her uncle’s family, Alice tried to adjust and find her place. But something unimaginable was about to unfold.
The Abuse Begins
One day, an older cousin, in high school, came to live with them. The sleeping arrangement seemed harmless at first: Alice was assigned to share a bed with this older cousin, while her younger cousins shared another. No one questioned it. Her aunt was the one who arranged it. But this setup created an opening for abuse. At night, Alice began experiencing touches that made her feel deeply uncomfortable. But she didn’t know what it meant. No one had ever taught her about personal boundaries, body safety, or what was right or wrong when it came to her own body. The abuse escalated gradually, from inappropriate touching to an attempted penetration. He couldn’t fully go through with it, but the trauma had already taken root. And still, Alice said nothing. She didn’t have the words. She didn’t know if anyone would listen or believe her. Eventually, the cousin left after finishing school. But the damage lingered, silently shaping Alice’s understanding of safety, trust, and self-worth.
Years Later: A Confusing Encounter
Years passed. Alice was now in high school. One day, her cousin came back to visit. This time, something happened that would confuse her even more—they had consensual sex. It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t violent. But it wasn’t simple. How could this happen between a survivor and the person who once abused her? This is the complexity we rarely speak about. Sometimes, survivors of childhood abuse later find themselves in confusing or even consensual situations with their abusers. This isn’t because they have forgotten what happened, or because they wanted it, but because trauma can create complicated emotional patterns. Early abuse distorts one’s understanding of affection, boundaries, and agency. What looks “mutual” on the surface may be the result of deep, unhealed trauma.
What We Must Understand
Alice’s story is not an isolated case. Many survivors struggle with internal conflict when abuse happens within families. They may feel guilt, confusion, or shame, especially if they later have encounters that appear consensual. But the responsibility never lies with the child. Alice was not to blame. Her silence was not consent. Her later actions were shaped by the betrayal she endured in childhood. For every Alice, there are many Alices out there—children who go to bed afraid, teens who carry unspoken pain, adults still unpacking the layers of trauma. To protect them, we must:
- Speak openly about child sexual abuse, even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Teach children early about body safety, consent, and how to ask for help.
- Believe survivors, no matter when they choose to speak.
- Challenge the silence that protects perpetrators, especially within families.
- Provide safe spaces where survivors can heal without shame.
“When a child is abused, the silence around them becomes louder than the act itself.” — Mosaic Unveiled
Alice’s story is a reminder that abuse doesn’t end when the perpetrator leaves. It lingers in the mind, the body, the heart. Healing begins when stories like hers are brought into the light, when we stop asking “Why didn’t she tell someone?” and start asking, “Why was she ever put in that situation?”