I feel so hurt :(
My brother and I had a rather difficult child hood, as our mother (our only parent) was physically and mentally abusive towards us, me especially, but that is because i knew my father, and missed him terribly. She hated me for this. My brother, being 5 and half years younger, never knew him.
I would say we carry the scars from this, and although we are a tad messed up emotionally. We have done ok.
I loved my brother, and felt we had been in it together. I ran away when i was 15 (my relationship with my mother was terrible by this time), but always stayed in touch with my brother, perhaps a bit intermittently, as there was no phone in the house, or mobiles / internet back then. But i did my best.
When i turned 16 i was offered a job working for a man who kept horses. Before running away, i had sometimes ridden his horses for him, and he was keen to employ me. I lived in a caravan, illegally at the back of his stables, but i did not care, anything was better than living with my mother.
I worked for this particular employer for about a year, and other than being a bit of an arrogant man, i quite liked him really.
I came back to work for the same employer when i was 19, it was only for the winter only. During this time i managed to secure a job for my brother, mowing lawns, digging gardens, etc.. He was almost 14. I was delighted for him, as i knew he was never given pocket money, and mother refused to buy him the latest trainers etc, which seems to be so important to young, teenage boys.
I moved to london after the winter and started to settle there. My brother continued to work for this person.
Fast forwarding some years, my brother went to uni. Did well, and left to work in Japan - for 5 years. Up until he left for Japan, i had, what felt like, a mutually good caring relationship with my brother.
He returned a different person :(
At first he said he was too busy, and stressed to make/have contact or meet up, as he started a masters degree straight away upon his return. I found it a little odd, but accepted it. Then 2 years on, I lost my partner (he died) and i needed and wanted to move away. Although i felt my brother had been acting a little odd towards me, i wanted to move to the north to start over with my life, and my babies life, who was due to be born, and to build the bond again with my little brother.
Since moving to be be near him, i have been treated with utter disdain. I have been trying for over 2 years to 'be his friend'. In return i he has treated me like an unwanted dog. I could not understand why he almost breathed hatred when having to speak to me. I asked why, on so many occasions, does he make feel as though i have done something wrong. He never gave me any answers, and the more I asked the more nasty he would be.
It has reached the point that i can take no longer take his treatment, and i have ceased to make contact with him. He would never contact me, and i can only imagine he is now very happy.
A few days ago I found out that he has been abused, sexually. And the abuser was my former employer.
All this time, for these recent years - he blames me, as it was I who got him the job.
I am mortified. I was trying to help. To do a good thing for my brother, to make his life better. I had no idea, not in the slightest, that this man would do such a terrible thing to my little brother. I had know this man since i was 12, and I myself had been with him alone on many occasions since once i turned 16. He had never once indicated that he was a bad man.
I have not slept for a few nights now. I feel a range of emotions.
I am devastated that i did not protect my younger brother, but i also know i am not to blame. or am I ? I don't know what to think.
I am mortified, and angry, that my brother blames me, and has treated me so badly for so long because of this. I feel i want to scream at some one, i feel such rage towards this man who did this. I feel such rage to this man, and my brother for ruining my relationship with my brother.
I know this sounds strange, but i kind of feel like my brother has been covertly abusing me emotionally for the last few years, and i kind of feel dirty now that i know why. I am not sure how this will sound, i am sorry if it sounds strange. It feels strange, but i really do feel dirty, knowing i am the link to something very bad that has happened to him, and knowing that he blames me.
I feel absolutely terrible for what has happened to my brother. but i also feel i will never be able to forgive him for blaming me. I know that sounds so selfish. I am sorry. Having been through bereavement (when i lost my partner) I now also feel like my brother has died. All those, what were once happy memories, playing with him as we grew up, now feel sad, and deeply painful.
Please can anyone help me to work through these awful feelings? My brother does not know that i now know, and I am not sure telling him would be a good idea. I would be grateful to know what you think? With no family, or friends for support, and having not long recoved from depression, due to bereavement, I feel I need to be able to get things together, and quickly for the sake of my lovely little boy. Please don't ask me to visit the doctor.
Thank you so much if you have managed to read this far.
I hope you may be able to help xxx