Open your eye\'s. Take a walk through my vessel. Listen to my voice. I am a woman. I am a mother. Today I am your friend. Life is a gift. But if it is not guarded. It can be disrupted at any given second. The heart carries so many stories. Hear my words. Listen to my spirit. I was once a lost soul walking around. In a mess of chaos. Today my colors are shining. I wear the colors of a champion. Addiction dug at my life. It pushed me off the highest cliff. In hopes of taking my life. But my lungs still expand. I am a artist. With a creative wild side. So much abuse. So many stories. So much heartache and pain. In the mind of an attic. So many things take place. Sickness knocks at the door. Physical things then develop. I was casted into an ocean of sharks. At such a young age. The fish swam around. Drawing me in. Before I new it. I was attacked. Boom! Destruction took the lead. MY thoughts have changed. I swallowed a pill and ecstasy was the name. Clueless to what it actually was. My body heated. My words were honest. My mind wondered and fantasy\'s came to life. No thoughts of fear. My shyness disappeared. The touch of a hand intensed all physical feelings. Sexual became my new name. Adventures came to play. His hand combed through my hair. His voice was sweet. His smile made me want more. The motion was in between the sheets. I fell in love. Not with a man. But a drug. I did not know how it would tear my clothing away in the future. I did not know it would leave me in a closet crying or on the ground kicking. I did not no it would take my innocence\'s. I was lead down the road of sexual asassaults. With or without it. I carried the image of a sexual woman. Wanted or not. It always arouse and found me in many places. Until I was carved out in sexaul abuse. Today it will not swallow me. I will not fear what the world may say. Because I have a message to carry. No means no. Not later, not maybe, but no. It should not be up for discussion. The word should speak for itself. But on many occasions it does not. Woman, children, and men. Today lets come together in unity and spread this message nation wide. No man should stand alone. So spread your heart. In helping us heal. Keeping us safe and fighting for the lives of others. Speak up and speak out. Silence is not the way. Help is knocking on the door. Open it up and start to love yourself again.
Sincerely,
Your Friend
Catherine J. Houston
CARRY THE MESSAGE. SPREAD THE WORD. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. THERE IS NO REASON TO ISOLATE.