After Running Away From Abuse, She Gave Herself a New Name That Means Freedom

"There was a lot of physical abuse and sexual abuse. It was all chalked up to God - like God was directing them to do it, that they were preparing me for later in life. They would pull Bible verses and say, 'See, this is why it's okay.'"

"For years, she endured it in a home that, from the outside, appeared stable. There was financial security, private schooling, a house with an in-ground pool. But by the time she turned 18, she says, the cost of staying had become greater than the risk of leaving."

"Walking away meant forfeiting everything. Her parents were still supporting her financially; her bank account was tied to her father's. Leaving would mean cutting herself off from money, from extended family, from any semblance of a safety net."

Charlotte Hayes was adopted as a toddler named Lubov from a Moscow orphanage and brought to Northern Virginia by a wealthy, deeply religious American family who renamed her Rachel. Throughout her childhood, she endured physical and sexual abuse that her parents justified through religious scripture and biblical interpretation. Despite outward appearances of stability—financial security, private schooling, and material comfort—the psychological and physical toll became unbearable. At age 18, Hayes made the difficult decision to leave, knowing she would lose financial support, access to her bank account, and family connections. In the early morning of June 10, 2018, she escaped with help from a friend, beginning a life of independence with minimal resources and taking on various under-the-table jobs.

Read at TODAY.com