• Brain dump

    Breaking the cycle

    At nine years old my sisters and I were taken away from our mother and placed into foster care for the fourth and final time. When the police showed up at our house and told us to pack what we could into our trash bags, this was not new. We knew the drill and the dreadful feeling that came with leaving what we were used to. I think the two of them were just as comfortable in the chaos as I was. We were comfortable with stealing dinner from the corner grocery store to eat and rummaging through the neighborhood dumpsters when we wore holes in our shoes. We knew…

  • Story time

    Mirror, mirror, on the wall

    “Meet me at the park in twenty minutes.” My heart skipped every single time he would text this to me. The thrill of sneaking out of my office, meeting up with him, and disappearing to our secret spot to participate in my very favorite nonsexual physical activity, making out, was always a welcome surprise. It always had to be on his terms, because, well he was a busy man. Both with his respectable career and with his longtime girlfriend. So, when he could get a few free minutes in his day I happily obliged in filling that time. (I know, I know… trust me, there is nothing that you could…

  • Brain dump

    Daffodile

    “Shhhit! We are late boy, go brush your teeth and get your ass in the car, we have to get it in gear!” I shot Drake a stern glance as I walked out the door and jumped in the car. Ten minutes later we were zooming through traffic as we made our way to the high school. “Have a wonderful Wednesday, do your best to be your best, and don’t forget how important you are.“ I gave my usual morning speech as he stepped out of the car and made his way up the catwalk stairs toward the hell that awaits freshmen every day. I let out a sigh of…

  • Story time

    Lotus flower

    “TAG!!! You’re it!!” I yelled through my laughter as I ducked out of Mrs. Williams’s rose bush, ambushing Jessi. She rolled her eyes as she spoke; “Fine, but stop cheating asshole! Or I’m going to tell your mom.” Jessi was my best friend. Really, she was my only friend. She lived right across the road from me in a house that was just as run-down as my own, with a mom that was just as consumed with her demons as my mom. Even as a 9-year-old child, Jessi didn’t follow the herd when they made fun of my greasy hair or dirty clothes, in fact, she once punched a kid…