This section discusses sexual violence and may be distressing to some readers.

I recall feeling the weight of him on me, the breath in my face and my genitals being touched.
I was completely paralysed with fear. I could not speak. I was totally bewildered as to what was going on.
I remember this happening a few times. I tried to explain to my parents what had happened to me. They didn’t understand. They thought it was a nightmare. I knew differently. I named this thing ‘the black shadow’. I took a piece of wood to bed with me every night so I could defend myself or knock on the wall to alert my parents. The problem was that when ‘the black shadow’ entered my room I was so fearful I could do nothing.