Mother, will they put me in the firing line?

“There’s something I’ve never told you”

For the rest of my days I will never forget the look on my mother’s face when I said those words. The moment she knew exactly what I meant. The way her eyes – so identical to mine – looked me in the face and let me know I didn’t have to say that word.

“I always blamed myself. I didn’t know why you changed overnight”

I have never blamed her. She couldn’t have prevented it. A school is supposed to be a safe place. Teachers and adults are supposed to look after young children.

“I worked there at the time. I didn’t know”

How could she have known? I was silenced that day. It was a secret I wasn’t allowed to tell.