I never imagined I’d be in a position where I’d have to ask for help, but things have gotten so bad that I don’t know what else to do.
My name is Jasmine, and I’m 18 years old. For as long as I can remember, my life has been filled with fear, uncertainty, and isolation. My mom passed away when I was very young, and since then, my dad has made it clear that he blames me and my little brother for her death. My mom died giving birth to my brother, and my dad’s anger towards us has never faded. He’s been battling addiction—drugs and alcohol—for years, and it’s torn our family apart.
I’ve lived in this abusive environment for over a decade, and every day feels like I’m suffocating under the weight of it. My dad’s addiction has only gotten worse, and now, the abuse isn’t just emotional—it's physical and constant. He doesn’t let us leave the house, he keeps us isolated, and there are days when we don’t have enough food to eat. My little brother and I try to stay quiet, stay out of the way, but it’s hard to pretend everything is okay when you’re constantly walking on eggshells, wondering if today will be the day it gets worse.
I work a part-time job, but the pay is barely enough to cover the essentials, let alone save up to move out. It’s a struggle just to make sure my brother and I have something to eat each day. I hide the little bit of money I make because my dad always tries to take it from me. There are nights when I wonder how long we can keep going like this—how much longer we can endure the constant stress and fear before something terrible happens.
I’ve thought about leaving so many times, but it’s hard to know where to go or how to make it out. The idea of leaving feels impossible when every dollar I earn is stolen away, when my safety is threatened, and when there’s nowhere to turn. The worst part is knowing that my little brother looks to me for protection, and I can’t always give him the safety he deserves.
Right now, I’m asking for help because I don’t know what else to do. I need to get me and my little brother out of this house. We need to escape from the environment that has trapped us for so long, but I don’t have the resources to do it alone. I’ve saved what I can, but it’s just not enough, and the longer we stay here, the more dangerous it gets.
Please, if you can, consider donating to help us start a new life away from this abuse. I need to move out, but I don’t have the money for the first month’s rent, the cost of getting out, or the basic necessities we will need when we leave. Anything you can contribute—no matter how small—will help us get one step closer to freedom and safety. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this with others who might be able to help.
This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but I’m begging for your help because my brother and I deserve a chance to live without fear. We deserve a life where we don’t have to hide from our own father. Every day that goes by, I feel like we’re losing a little more of ourselves, and I need to do whatever I can to get us out before it’s too late.
Thank you for reading, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for any support you can offer. It means more than you could ever know.