Fabienne grew up in the 1970s in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. This document is an excerpt from the oral history of her life, in which she recounted her struggles growing up and her eventual decision to escape an abusive husband and move to the United States. Her account was recorded by Zara Marselian and published in The Soul Speaks, an anthology of real-life stories from around the world. Marselian is the cofounder of La Maestra Community Health Centers, which provides healthcare and social services to immigrants and refugees in San Diego, California.