”I’m from Barinas, Venezuela. A beautiful place most people don’t know. It’s the countryside, where our national music comes from. I lived there until I was 16, but after my father passed away when I was nine, my family’s life changed dramatically.”

“My mother struggled to provide for my brother and me. I remember the days when food was scarce as the political situation worsened. At 19, I left for Malaga in Spain, carrying only 200 euros.”

In Spain Sofia accepted a babysitting job for which she had to move up north. ”The family seemed normal at first, but the father drank heavily. I convinced myself it wasn’t my problem; I needed the job.”
One night, everything changed. ”I was on a video call at 2 a.m. when he entered my room naked without warning. I froze in fear, unable to comprehend what was happening. I wanted to shout, to fight back, but I was paralyzed. After a moment, he just left.” Just two days later, the situation escalated. ”I was in the kitchen when he came home drunk again and touched me. I was terrified and ran away, but he chased after me. I had to leave immediately.”

Returning to Malaga felt like a refuge, but the emotional scars lingered. ”I was haunted by the experience, but I knew I had to move forward. At that point I wanted to quit my major but when the school secretary asked, ’Are you sure you want to quit?’ it
motivated me to keep going.”

Eventually, Sofia moved to Belgium for an internship, ”In Mechelen, I discovered a place of healing and strength.” Now, at 24, she is senior accountant. ”What happened doesn’t define who I am. There’s more to achieve, and I’m ready to chase my dreams.”

Tekst: Tiziri Tebani

Featured image: Sofia