Member-only story
Everyone knew and did nothing.
Trigger Warning* Sexual Assault of a Minor.
My grandfather was a serial pedophile. I do not remember when it started with me, but the first memory that comes to mind is around the time I started kindergarten. I can clearly remember the pain and the feeling of being dirty and scared that day as he sent me back into the house ahead of him. He stayed outside for a while. I think he was waiting to see if I would say anything. I was terrified, and I did what he wanted me to do. I said nothing.
Later, he would tell me that if I told anyone, it would kill my grandmother and hurt my dad. I loved my dad. My mother had left my sisters and me, and all we had was our father.
I kept the monster’s secret, terrified that people would find out, and my grandmother would die. This went on for years. I would try everything to make it hard on him. In my young mind, if I wrapped myself up in a blanket, it would be harder for him to get to me. It would make more noise, and he would have to leave me alone. He was brazen, this monster. He was used to people not seeing. The wrapping in the blanket didn’t work like I wanted it to, but it did hinder him somewhat.
We had the whole family in for the summer. My uncles and aunt, with all their children, and to accommodate everyone, all of us kids slept on the floor in my grandparents’ room. I…
