Pain in Portugal and year 7

by Hayley
(Birmingham)

It has been another long time since I made an entry, and I thought I had better make another one sooner or later.

Portugal continued to be bad with cruel remarks being levelled at me by my brother. It amazed me that although my parents heard him shouting at me they never said anything to him and I was left to suffer in silence. It would have been nice if things had changed when we got back, but that was just too much to ask!

When I went back to Middle school, the stomach pains started, and the fear of a particular maths and geography teacher. Even worse, my long term condition became worse and the abuse continued. It was the same thing, pestering me, and watching me getting bullied about my body. It was the usual hell and a terrible dread of school holidays and weekends.

The teacher was as bad as I had feared, as were his lessons. The worsening of my illness did not actually get detected by my parents. There was too much to do giving my grief about getting bad grades and not pulling my weight. What they failed to notice was the fact that I was feeling terrible and my appetite was poor. Even a bad half termly report card and some bad reports on parents evening did not alert them to the fact that there was a problem - until the deputy head of the school had my parents in for a meeting and I was sent to the hospital for blood tests. It was the February half term when the results came through, I was indeed acutely hypothyroid. Thankfully, my physical condition picked up as did my grades at school. Unfortunately the abuse didn't stop. My brother continued to pester me almost to the point of bullying me for sex, and would torment me about my body. Something he still loves to do now, and as was the case 17 years ago, nothing was said even if it was heard by them.

I'd better go now, my cheek bone is still sore, and I am not looking forward to the journey home.