One Survivor’s Journey Through Writing
Finding a Way Through Isolation
When the abuse first began, the fear and isolation were overwhelming. With family living far away, one survivor often felt she was facing everything alone.
During this time, someone close to her encouraged her to focus on the things that had always been part of who she was — reading, creating and making things. They also offered one important piece of advice: write things down. Record what was said, what happened, and how it made her feel.
At the time, she did not realise how important that advice would become.
Holding Onto the Truth
It started with small notes on scraps of paper — fragments of conversations, comments that lingered, and moments that left her feeling confused or hurt. Over time, she began questioning her own memory and doubting her thoughts.
“I began to feel as if I was going crazy,” she reflects. “Writing things down helped me hold onto the truth of what was happening.”
Gradually those notes turned into sentences, then paragraphs. Before long, they became a journal.
Alongside writing, she began researching human behaviour — something that had always interested her. Learning more about why people behave the way they do helped her make sense of experiences that had once felt impossible to understand.
Rebuilding Through Creativity
Writing soon became more than a record. It soothed her thoughts, gave structure to her days and provided somewhere for difficult feelings to go.
As the pages filled, something began to change. She discovered new skills and slowly her confidence returned. The dignity she felt had been lost began to rebuild.
With a background in art and design, she also began creating her own book covers. The creative process offered a sense of purpose and control at a time when much of her life felt uncertain.
Turning Experience Into Strength
Over time, those journals grew into something more. They became the foundation for three books: Eight Steps From Home, Becoming Me Again, and What Was Never Taken.
Each reflects part of her journey — rebuilding a sense of self and recognising that even in the darkest moments, there are parts of us that remain untouched.
“Writing brought me out of a place I never want to return to,” she says. “In many ways, writing didn’t just help me cope — it saved my life.”
Angelina wants to share what writing really means to her. Writing has never been something that comes from the head alone. It comes from somewhere deeper — from lived moments, from emotions that have settled into the heart and refuse to stay silent. The words only arrive when something has truly been felt.
Angelina added that “every time I write, I realise that the words are really just a bridge between experience and understanding. They help us make sense of where we’ve been, and sometimes even where we are going”.
