Those are truly awful things to say. I'm sorry that you had to go through that and I understand how it can affect you.
Content warning: sexual abuse and religion...
When I was 18 I was targeted, manipulated and abused by someone from my church. I kept saying no, but he kept pushing me further and doing things with my body without my consent. In the end I had the strength to break up with him, but then he called my mother asking for help, and she brought him back into the house and kept a friendship going with him which enabled him to do it all over again.
When I went to someone in my church for help and support, all I got was an exorcism.
My little sister called me a wh*re because I had holes in my tights and it completely broke me.
I came to terms with the act itself a long time ago, but I'm still trying to deal with the sense of betrayal from the people who were supposed to care for me and protect me.
But we have such strength and resilience to have survived that trauma, and we can't let it define the rest of our lives. It can become one small piece in the mosaic of who we are.
You do matter. You are as much a part of this world as anyone else, even when the world doesn't see it that way. Your feelings matter.
