And Our Village Remained Silent

Carlyn's husband had worn her down with years of degradation, disreputable business dealings, and sexual peccadilloes. As their fourteenth wedding anniversary approached, Carlyn, in desperation, started a journey of introspection which led to the crushing awareness that Fred had molested several of her sisters. That was the final straw for their marriage. As she learned more about Fred's secret life, Carlyn also realized their children had been victimized. Carlyn faced a difficult time of Fred's increased wrath, her own emotional crisis, and the struggle to protect her children, all with nominal support from their community, church, and her family who lived by rigid, fundamentalist values. During the crisis, Carlyn kept a notebook that was both a diary of feelings and a journal of the ongoing stressors. In her writing, she grappled with questions apt to haunt any woman shaken by the discovery that her partner is a sex offender. When did he start? Why did I not know?How did I get into into this mess? Who will help me manage the anger, guilt, and shame?What must I do to provide my children a safe future?