On the surface,17.
Below, deep in this extremely distressed mind there sits an eight year old.
She doesn\'t speak much. But when she does, something breaks on the outside. she cries for what cannot be given to her.
She wants her life back in order. She wants her parents to validate her. Tell her she is enough, she is worthy of a family.
She is a force to be reckoned with, but with the attention of a man, she turns into a damsel in distress, begging for his approval, doing everything she can to be his perfect play toy.
When she gets hurt or thrown away by that man she feels worthless, useless.
The 17 year old tells her she is good enough, she is worthy, she is Everything anyone could want. She doesn\'t need validation from anyone but herself. She still struggles to accept herself. She is me. I am her.