Abuse in the home -- A victims story

Ok, at age 6 I was sent to live with my step father and pretty much had nothing to do with the rest of my family again til recently. I am now 22 have a family of my own and something sitting in the back of my head is telling me to write my story not as a sympathy vote because I have forgiven the offender and tried to move on with my life. But this is a warning for all parents.
After I was sent to live with my step father at 6, he told me approxiametly 6 months later he was not my biological dad. Then things began, like bribing me for his affection or material things. He told me this was our special secret so I never told any one til my current partner. My step father would have me doing house work and basically made me his slave. If things weren't done to his standard or I dared to try and question his authority I would be punished. Wether it be a physical punishment (grbbing my hair which was not to be cut and must be up in a pony tail or braid and beating me) or a verbal punishment you useless so n so, you f*****g fat so n so (You get the idea) Then he would bribe me to give him massages etc, which eventually lead to being touched and basically performing all sorts of sexual things (Never actual intercourse) I was never allowed out of his family's rein apart from school. The sexual abuse stopped at about 14yrs old. Everything else continued on til I was kicked out at 16 (was planning to leave when I had got some shit together any way)
Not only was I abused by a man i trusted but also by his best friend made me touch him a couple of times when I was about 9. And by cousin when I was 12. ( a ruff trot I know).
At about 13 I started giving up on life. I knew what had happened and what was continuing to happen was wrong but I felt ashamed and embarresed for letting this happen to me. I thought no one would believe me. I gave up on school, I started cutting myself. For those who think it's an attention thing. I believe that Because I couldn't verbally release my pain  I did it by cutting. I had no one to turn too. No one to talk to. After a while I became voilent and was getting in to fights drugs sleeping around etc.I got to be suicidal to the point I was admitted to hospital for three days and talked my way out of being admitted to the phsychiatric  ward. I ended up with eating problems . I wouldn't eat for days then I would gorge til I was sick.  Eventually at 19 I had to leave. I left the state  and moved to border of vic/nsw aust where I got a job picking grapes. I got in contact with my sister in wa who put me in contact with my other sister in melbourne. Two weeks later I moved in (this is where I meet my lovely partner)
I got myself sorted, I got a traineeship in Hospitality and can now pretty much get a job anywhere in australia. I have one lovely child and I would put my life on the line for him if I thought anything like what happened to me was happening to him.
The reason I am writing this is because not only strangers are abusive or commit these horrific crimes. A lot tof the time it comes from within the family or a close family friend. Beware the signs of abuse. The person may become rebellious or may isolate themselves. If their grades dropped, if you notice any sudden changes or abnormalities in your children talk to them, if you can't get a trusted family member or friend to talk to them. Listen to your children if they say they don't want to go with some one. Especially if it happens regularly to the same person and especially listen to your gut. I was able to move on and get away from that stuff because I was able to forgive him. I now speak to him but I would not say we are close at all. When I did truely forgive him I felt as though a great weight was lifted off my shoulders. If you have been abused I hope you find the strength and the courage to forgive and move on and make the most of your life as I have. And lastly but most importantly DO NOT let child abuse go unnoticed or unpunished.