Foreword
Some stories are not written to entertain, but to survive.
The Childhood That Was Taken is mine.
For years, silence was my shelter — and my cage.
What happened to me did not disappear just because I stopped talking about it.
It stayed in the bones, in the breath, in every cautious smile I learned to wear.
This book is not about blame. It’s about truth — the kind that hurts before it heals.
I write it for the child I once was, and for anyone who still carries their own invisible wounds.
If you find yourself in these pages, I hope you’ll know: survival is not shame. It’s proof.
December 2025 — Chapter One will begin.
I have just received the announcement that your story will commence in December, and want to assure you publicly that I look forward to reading it with open mind and heart. Your courage, sensitivity, and mastery of expression are sure to make it an inspiring experience.