My Story

by Elizabeth Smart

But the best punishment you could ever give him is to be happy. To move forward with your life. To do exactly what you want.

Just be happy. If you go and feel sorry for yourself, or if you dwell on what has happened, if you hold on to your pain, that is allowing him to steal more of your life away. So don’t you do that! Don’t you let him! There is no way that he deserves that. Not one more second of your life. You keep every second for yourself. You keep them and be happy.