After reading the great book called "Fordged by Fire", I was made aware of a serious problem that many children have to go through. That problem is child abuse. A lot of you might know someone whose parents abuse them, and you may be completely unaware.

A lot of children are abused and nobody knows a thing about it. In fact, most abused and/or neglected children never come to the attention of government authorities. Some children that were abused become mentally ill and sometimes even commit suicide, especially when the abuse started at a young age and occurred for a long period of time.

If a child or friend ever tells you they are being abused, please take it seriously. If an abuse victim tells, and is doubted or ignored, that can do emotional damage and can sometimes be more painful than the abuse itself. If you find out it is true, make sure you confide in an adult that you know you can trust, even if they ask you not to tell anyone. A lot of abused children just want to feel loved and that someone cares about them. If you see someone who might be abused, reach out to them, and maybe they will confide in you and they can get help.

Before closing this article, I wanted to bring up one more thing. If you or someone you know is being abused, don't be afraid to let someone know. If you are scared, try messaging me or someone else on Whyville first, then it may be easier to tell somebody else. Know that telling is the right thing to do, and that you will soon be safe.

That's all, until next time.
-Mychemfan.