I was sixteen when it happened.
The first time I leaked urine unexpectedly.
I thought it was a one-off incident.
It wasn't.
Years passed.
I learned how to hide the smell.
I learned which clothes concealed stains.
I learned how to avoid social situations.
What I never learned was how to ask for help.
The shame was overwhelming.
People assumed I had poor hygiene.
Some avoided sitting near me.
Others whispered behind my back.
Eventually, I discovered I was living with a fistula, a preventable childbirth injury that affects thousands of women, particularly in low-resource settings.
The day I received treatment felt like a second chance at life.
For the first time in years, I could laugh without fear.
Travel without fear.
Sleep without fear.
No woman should suffer in silence because of a treatable condition.
Healing is possible. Dignity can be restored. Hope can return.