Dear Pastor,

I realised that I need help after talking with a friend. I am 17 years old and live with my mother, who is destroying my life.

My mother had her first child, my sister, now 26, at 16. Then she had six more. All of her children have suffered. The first one was taken to a home because my mother left her in a car shortly after she was born.

Hungry

When I was about 13, she used to make all of us go to town and sell while she stayed home. If we got hungry while selling ginger and thyme in the sun, we were not allowed to use any of the money to buy food, not even a sweety. That was how bad it was. Because of this, my sister ran away and got pregnant. My mother did not even look for her. My sister was just 17.

When I was 15, she allowed a man who liked me to sleep in her house with me on the same bed because he paid her to do that. He told her that he had locked his keys in his car. That night I was raped. I told her, but she did not believe me.

Abortion

After about two months, she noticed that I was pregnant. She took me to do an illegal abortion and argued that it was not him who got me pregnant, after beating me. She does not work, but yet she loves money. Because of her, I am with a man who is 50 years old. He is old enough to be my father.

I cannot help the situation because he has assisted me through high school. He got me pregnant twice and she made me have abortions. Because of the abortions I am having constant infections and bleeding problems.

I have to sleep with him because if I don't, our rent will not be paid. I do not eat, go to school or have any money at all. If I decide I do not want to talk to him or answer his calls, she curses me and beats me. I am now 17 and I am still living like this.

Pastor, tell me, should I run away or move out? If I do, I am afraid I won't be able to make it. I am currently in school and I pray every night for help. I am suffering in hell. Please, help me.

S.S., Kingston, Jamaica

Dear S.S.,

Your mother should be doing time in prison for what she did to you. She has caused you to prostitute yourself. She has not tried to protect her girl children. Instead, she has turned into a pimp.

I suggest that you call a family counsellor and make an appointment to see him/her. It is sad that you have been selling yourself to survive.

Pastor