At age 5, I went through what no child should have gone through; I was sexually abused.
To me, I didn't think much about it at the time, he was my uncle and he wouldn't have hurt me, right?
Growing up in a culture where sex wasn't talked about, this happened again and again, and by age 10, I had been sexually abused by more than three men without anyone realizing it.
This made me fall into depression in my teenage years, I wasn't only depressed but I was also very suicidal; I didn't see a reason to live and I wanted to end it.
At this point, I found music, and I wouldn't lie here and say that it was some magical pill that changed everything, but it made it all suck less, at least at intervals.
I remember the last time I tried to commit suicide, I had attempted, rethought, and cried myself out but, after calming down, I decided to scroll through YouTube and I found this song; safe and sound by Taylor Swift.
I had always been a Taylor Swift fan and loved her music, but hearing safe and sound at that point felt like a warm hug which I incredibly needed.
It was crazy how just a simple song by a girl who I adored, singing about me being safe and sound could change everything.
I continued listening to this song every time I felt sad and every time it made me feel more safe, more sound.
it's been years since I listened to this song, but hearing it again made me feel like I was a child again; scared, alone, and vulnerable, in need of someone to make me feel safe.
While singing, I felt like I was singing to my inner child and I didn't realize how much she needed that and how healing it could be to sing a song that saved her years ago.
Music has always been a safe space for me and whether I am 13, praying for a sign to live, 16, crying every day, or 23, experiencing the best phase in my life, I will always feel safe when I listen to a song.
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I know a lot of people are going through one thing or the other right now, so I hope listening to my rendition of this song makes you feel a little bit safe and sound.
▶️ 3Speak
