How did it get to this!? As Samantha* stared in disbelief at her forehead and the now bleeding wound, she knew beyond a doubt that anyone who could inflict such pain, could never be a friend.
Samantha was in 8th grade when she met an older man online. At first, he listened intently as Samantha talked about the many arguments she had at home with her mom. When he offered his home as a place she could hang out after school, Samantha told her mom she was spending time with friends and began a dangerous journey of spending time alone with this older man. Samantha felt she could trust him; he had opened his home; spent time listening to her; and had bought her many expensive gifts. When he asked her to sleep with his friends, Samantha was shocked but since she did not want to lose him, she did as he asked. Things got progressively worse as Samantha was sold to more and more men.
When Samantha tried ending the relationship, things escalated into violence. When she told her older male companion that she met a boy at school that she liked, he grabbed a piece of glass and started carving into her forehead.
Samantha was able to tell her mom and stepdad exactly what happened. Law enforcement and the Department of Children and Families intervened, and Samantha was referred to our One More Child Anti-Trafficking mobile team.
It has been a rough season, but Samantha continues to work through trauma with a clinician and is working on life skills with her mentor. Despite the challenges, Samantha earned her GED and is working on her resume as she looks forward to starting a new job. Our Anti-Trafficking team is committed to working with Samantha and helping her become all God intends her to be.