The first time her father made an improper advance on Toni, she was six years old. When she finally built up the courage to tell her mother what had happened, her mother told her never to speak of the matter again. When the assaults grew worse her father warned her not to tell her mother, or anyone else, because they would blame her and wouldn't love her any more. It had to remain ‘our secret.’
At fourteen Toni fell pregnant by her father and for the first time ever shared her terrible secret. Just as her father predicted, everyone blamed her. Although he was sent to prison, Toni continued to suffer, almost dying from a botched late abortion.
The found herself judged and rejected by her family, teachers and friends, forced into a world of depression and madness with only herself to rely on if she ever hoped to build a happy life.
