Once Innocent

Book excerpt: In this heartfelt memoir, April goes into great detail about the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse she and her young siblings suffered at the hands of their father. At the age of three, April was tortured, beaten, belittled, and abused by her alcoholic, and drug addicted father: a father who beat, and played mind games-games that left her fearing for her life. She learned how to survive by silence and silence alone. April slept in a corner in her bedroom, her clothes raunchy with urine. April did everything she could to be a good girl so her father would love her, but all she got in return was a beating to reassure her father she would remain silent and not speak a word to anyone. No other family member knew of the abuse April was suffering nor did they care. April had no one to turn to; all she had was her prayers, prayers that her father would fi nd her a good child and love her. This memoir will walk you through each struggle as April fi ghts for love and happiness and survival. This memoir speaks the truth about child abuse-and the choices we are all faced in order to survive.