Chapter 98

I spent years hiding the reality of my life from school and those who lived around me, but my story was not unique, and many kids like me had abusive, addicted parents and lives that no child should endure. I had to learn to suck it up and deal with it. I had to learn to fend for myself and not rely on anyone else for anything. I fed myself and made sure I made my own money in any way I could so I wouldn’t starve or freeze. I stole, begged, manipulated people to get by, and learned that if you are streetwise and savvy and put all your frail feelings in a cold place to die, you can survive almost anything you set your mind to.

Age is just a number, and the smallest children can find strength in survival. That’s what I did. I learned that men and women could be equally cruel and that people will turn a blind eye to something distasteful rather than help, even when you are a child. I learned that those in positions to help are sometimes as bad as those who abuse. I knew you shoul