My name is Monasia Long. I am pregnant, and I am the mother of a six-year-old daughter. I am writing this because my child and I are living in fear, and I need help immediately.
I recently moved to Baltimore from Arizona because my family disowned me after I reverted to Islam. When I chose my faith, I lost my family, my home, and my support system. I had nowhere safe to go. I am a mother trying to follow her faith while protecting her child, and instead I was left completely alone.
My fiancé, who should be here with me, is dealing with immigration issues. Because of this, we cannot be together right now. I am pregnant and raising my daughter alone, without my partner, without protection, and without support.
I came to Baltimore believing my sister would help me. Instead, the house I am staying in is unsafe and terrifying.
My sister’s boyfriend was recently released from prison for sexual assault on a child. He lives in the home with us. Knowing his history already made me afraid, but his behavior has made the situation unbearable. He harasses me. He invades my space. He walks around the house in his underwear. He uses the bathroom with the door open. He does not respect boundaries. His presence makes me fear for my daughter’s safety every single moment of the day.
Because of this, my daughter and I stay locked in one room almost 24 hours a day. We eat in the room. We sleep in the room. We hide in the room. I sleep every night with mace under my pillow because I am afraid something will happen to us while we are sleeping. I should not have to live like this, and my child should not have to live like this.
My sister refuses to do anything about it.
She herself walks around the house naked. She uses the bathroom with the door open. She drinks alcohol daily and smokes in the house. There are no boundaries, no protection, and no concern for the fact that there is a pregnant woman and a young child living here. My daughter is being exposed to inappropriate behavior that is mentally and emotionally damaging.
I am constantly scared. I am constantly stressed. I am exhausted. I am pregnant and living in survival mode. I worry every day that the stress and fear will harm my unborn child. I worry every moment about my six-year-old’s safety. She should be playing and laughing, not hiding behind a locked door with her mother.
I have spoken up. I have asked for help. I have begged for change. Nothing has changed.
I have no family to turn to. I have no safe place to go. I have no partner here. I am trapped in a dangerous environment with my child.
I am asking for help because this is urgent. We need to leave this house as soon as possible. We need safe housing. We need protection. We need peace. This is not about comfort — this is about survival.
I am a mother doing everything I can to protect her children with no resources and no support. I am afraid every day that something terrible could happen if we stay here.
I am telling my story because my children’s lives matter.
— Monasia Long
