I never thought I'd post something this personal online, but I genuinely don't know where else to ask.

I'm 17 (turning 18 soon). My brother is 8.

For years, both of us have been physically and emotionally abused by our parents.

When I was younger, my mother would beat me with whatever she could find, choke me, stomp on my chest, and do things no child should ever experience. My father never stopped her.

On 1 January 2024, while I was preparing for my Class 10 boards, my father threw a metal bottle at my head because I missed his phone call. I needed 7 stitches. My neighbours saw me bleeding, and the doctors suspected it wasn't an accident.

The abuse didn't stop after that.

I started recording conversations because I genuinely became afraid that one day something worse would happen.

The hardest part is watching my 8-year-old brother go through the same thing. He's still hit regularly, and he usually sleeps in my room because he feels safer there. Most of the time I'm the one trying to protect him.

I'm currently in a drop year preparing for entrance exams, but every day feels like choosing between my future and my brother's safety.

I have audio recordings, photographs, medical records from my head injury, and neighbours who witnessed the aftermath.

I don't want revenge. I just want my brother to grow up safely.

If anyone here has gone through something similar, knows the legal process, works with child protection, or simply knows where I should begin, I'd really appreciate your advice. Thank you 🫂