Rome News-Tribune

Teen sisters are looking for a way to escape from their lives of prostituti­on

- JEANNE PHILLIPS

Dear Abby: I’m 19 and my sister is 16. We have been working as prostitute­s here in our state and in several nearby ones. We know we need help, but we are afraid to ask for it. Hotlines and traffickin­g programs have called the police on friends of ours who reached out for help. How can we get help without being forced to testify against my boyfriend and our other friends? — Teri

Dear Teri: I’m glad you wrote because there is help for you. Contact an organizati­on called Children of the Night. It has helped thousands of young people like you and your sister. Its toll-free phone number is (800) 551-1300, ext. 0, and it is staffed 24/7.

Children of the Night is privately funded and does not call the police on sex-traffickin­g victims. Once away from “the life,” you and your sister will be able to study for your high school diploma online by emailing wow@childrenof­thenight.org. If you would like more informatio­n, please visit www. childrenof­thenight.org and see for yourself.

Dear Abby: I have a dilemma, and I need to know who’s right. My boyfriend of 2 1/2 years wants me to move into his apartment, but he says I can’t live there for free.

He wants me to pay half the rent, cable, water and electric bills. I’m OK with the cable, water and electric. But I say the rent is the same whether I’m there or not, and I don’t think I should have to pay rent on HIS place.

It would be different if we were married. What do you think?

Who’s right?

— Maybe Moving In

Dear Maybe: You should carry your share. That the two of you are not married is even more reason why you should share the cost of the rent.

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