MALAYSIA: A Bracelet That Empowers Me

About this Story

This story was first published on the World Pulse platform and is shared here through a collaboration between World Pulse and Imaara Survivor Support Foundation. As part of Imaara’s Project Tell-Tale initiative, selected stories from World Pulse are being cross-posted to amplify survivor voices and strengthen conversations around gender-based violence.

The story was submitted in response to a call for stories connected to the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (2025), inviting survivors, advocates, and allies to share lived experiences, reflections, and pathways toward justice and healing.

Read the original story on World Pulse!

By: Alyssa

(The author has chosen to be identified in this publication)

I grew up in a home that was far from peaceful. I am an orphan, and after losing my parents at a young age, I lived with my uncle and aunt.

My uncle, often drunk and lost in his alcoholism, would hit my aunt and sometimes even me. Those moments were frightening, yet they quietly shaped my understanding of the world. Pain and fear were constant companions, but they also sparked something in me—a longing to live differently, to be gentle, and to break the cycle of harm.

Through it all, my aunt was my guiding light.

She would hold my hand and say, "Always be gentle to women. Treat them with care, always." She believed that women could bring peace to the world, and she wanted to teach me everything she knew about womanhood.

She educated me about patience, empathy, self-respect, and the small rituals that make life meaningful. She also taught me to be kind, even if people do harm.

She would say, "Do good, even if the world is going to end soon. Your goodness matters, no matter what happens around you." Those words became a guiding light in my life.

After my uncle divorced my aunt, life changed dramatically.

It was just the two of us, navigating the world on our own. My aunt started selling local dishes to make ends meet, and I became her helper, standing beside her as she cooked, served, and smiled through the struggles. Those days taught me resilience, patience, and the quiet strength of women who carry the weight of the world with grace.

One day, she found my estrogen pills, which I had been taking to explore my identity, and a hijab that was not hers. I froze, overwhelmed with fear, tears streaming down my face, expecting anger or disappointment.

But instead, she hugged me tightly.

Her eyes were teary, and with a soft, trembling voice, she whispered, "I have always wanted a daughter." She also told me that she had known all along, but chose to let it be because she was okay with it. In that moment, I felt a sense of belonging I had never known—a love so deep and unconditional it filled the emptiness I had carried since losing my parents.

After that day, she began to teach me how to dress, how to put on makeup, and how to carry myself with gentleness and confidence. She showed me that makeup was not just about beauty, but about expressing the gentleness and confidence of a woman.

She reminded me constantly to always be a good woman, to help those in need, and to live with kindness and empathy. Every lesson, every gentle touch, became a part of the woman I was slowly becoming.

Before she passed away, she gave me her bracelet.

Even though it was a simple bracelet with no material value, it became one of the most precious things to me. She told me to wear it always as a reminder of her love and guidance, so that even when she was gone, I would carry her spirit with me.

The journey toward my true self was not easy. Each step came with fear, hesitation, and uncertainty. But my aunt's words, her teachings, and her unwavering support became my promise to live kindly, to do good, and to embrace my identity fully, even when the world felt harsh.

Now she is no longer here with me. I pray that she will always be happy in the afterlife, that her soul rests in peace, and that the love and guidance she gave me continues to light my way. Every act of kindness I carry forward is a tribute to her—a daughter she always dreamed of, walking the world with her spirit in my heart.

Her life and teachings inspire me to speak out against abuse and violence toward women. No one should endure harm or fear in their own home. It is our responsibility as a society to protect, respect, and empower women so that they can live with safety, dignity, and peace.

I hope this story can be a reminder that violence is never acceptable, and silence only allows harm to continue.

Speak out against abuse in all its forms, and to support efforts that protect women’s safety and dignity.

Practice kindness intentionally, either in your homes, your communities, or your choices. When we choose gentleness, offer protection, and stand with vulnerable women, we carry forward a legacy of love that can break cycles of harm and create a more compassionate world.

Remember “Do good, even if the world is going to end soon”. I believe in women, and women have the power to create a safer, more compassionate world when they are protected, respected, and supported.