It was a while before I could start telling Puma what had happened.
She simply embraced me in silence, comforting me while I did my best to calm down.
I then shared the story I had kept hidden in my heart for so long. I told Puma, in a way she could easily understand, about when I was younger and not yet mature.
.....
My parents were rarely home because my father worked in a far-off place and my mother accompanied him there, leaving my sister and me at our grandmother's house.
We were so young... too young to be on our own and soon we were joined by a male relative who was meant to watch over us.
He was fun at first and we trusted him completely. We played with him with an innocence that masked our vulnerability, never noticing that he was slowly manipulating us into thinking his behavior was normal.
What started as innocent play soon escalated.
He began touching our bodies without hesitation or shame.
My younger sister eventually noticed something was wrong and became withdrawn, shutting herself in her room.
I was too naive back then.
The abuse continued until he was on top of me and warning bells finally rang in my mind.
Fortunately, at that moment, he must have heard someone entering the house, because he stopped.
A few days later he left, leaving my sister and me with scars that wouldn't heal... scars we hid deep inside.
I struggled to recover emotionally. I found myself seeking validation and attention from others, often falling into cycles of deep sadness and exhaustion.
I felt as though I was searching for something to fill an internal void, moving from one person to another until I met him.
......
He was charismatic and well-liked and he provided the attention I so desperately craved.
For a time, I believed I was finally healing and moving past my history.
However, that illusion shattered when he turned on me, leaving me feeling more broken than before.
I shared this with Puma and we both wept together.
In the aftermath of that relationship, I struggled with intense self-hatred. I felt like a shadow of myself, existing in a trance-like state and searching for any way to dull the emotional pain.
Years passed, and I became cynical, viewing the world as a harsh place and moving through life without direction.
To cope, I immersed myself in stories, hoping to find a sense of belonging or a reason to feel again.
I longed to be someone different, someone who was valued and loved for who they truly were. I didn't believe such a transformation was possible.
However, since arriving here, I have found myself changing.
The kindness and patience shown to me by those around me have allowed me to begin accepting my faults.
I am no longer forcing a change as it is happening naturally because I finally feel safe.
I rested in Puma's embrace as she comforted me. She reminded me that I am cared for despite my perceived weaknesses and encouraged me to forgive myself.
Eventually, I fell into a restful sleep.
.....
When I woke the next morning, my body felt heavy but my mind was clearer.
Puma helped me tend to the physical toll the emotional release had taken, offering her blunt but honest support.
She remained by my side, ensuring I had the time and space needed to recover fully.
We talked about the differences in our lives and perspectives and for the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of peace regarding my future.