My Father Threatened to Burn Us Alive, but My Siblings Helped Me Survive

When I was eight, my father threatened to burn my siblings and me alive after wrongly accusing my mum of taking something. He bought kerosene and matches, locked us inside and left us terrified. He later found the missing item in his own room and denied threatening us. His abuse did not end there. He insulted my mum, shouted at us constantly and made our home feel unsafe. Although he once doted on me, I could no longer separate that affection from the fear he caused the rest of the family. When he later withdrew financial support, my mum and siblings had to work and make sacrifices to survive. His death brought grief and relief, but the experience still affects how I approach love and trust. Through everything, my siblings became my safest support system.

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