Married at 16 years old, Zora escapes her abusive family to begin a new life.

Sadly, it wouldn't be long before she would learn that her new family were not the people she believed them to be.

In this raw and honest story, Zora exposes the events that led to her freedom.

My parents led their country because of the war that was going on.

They went and moved to the West Coast where we had other family. I would have to help with everything

around the house to all the chores. Growing up in a Muslim family, it was very, very strict. My dad was very controlling.

The summer, going into fourth grade is what I remember, that he started touching me inappropriately.

Oh, I hated going to school. I always felt so just like defeated and gross. It was hard.

I would pretend like I have some sort of confidence, but don't really.

His best friend had a brother that was Al's age and they were really good friends.

My brother was helping him out with something and instantly I was, I thought this guy is so cute.

I was very attracted to him.

It was almost like just an infatuation.

I would message him and he wouldn't contact me and days would go and then it was like, everything

was to his convenience.

I'm not allowed to go anywhere and really do anything anyways.

I knew I was always going to be home.

My brother decided I guess that night he was going to come home earlier. And he's like, who's in your room? Like, no one? And he kicks

it open. And there's, there's Al. And my mom found out she wanted me to break up with him, that

this is not acceptable, just constantly fighting with my parents.

They even call the cops.

My parents realize there's nothing we can really do to keep them away from each other.

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