To whom this may concern,

I have met death. Death has banged in my door, taken over my mind, contaminated my air, locked away my soul, tormented my thoughts, and taken control of my body. Death tricked me into thinking that it was my friend. Death has wiped away my tears, dried my eyes, picked me up and given me hope... that I would die this time.

I have seen pain. Pain stole my heart, corrupted my family, slept in my bed, told me bedtime stories, woke me up in the morning, and stayed by my side until I fell asleep.

I have kissed hurt. Hurt has built up my walls, annihilated my confidence, confiscated my smile, imprisoned my strength, and chained me to my nightmares.

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, there is no reason to fear evil because my biggest enemy is myself. I drowned myself in self sabotage, pushing the people away that actually loved me, and embracing the people who only loved me when it was beneficial at times.

I was a prisoner, my mother was the warden, my grandparents were the guards, and my siblings were my cell mates.

I couldn’t eat without being told to, I couldn’t sleep without being harassed, I couldn’t shower with privacy, and the limited free time I had was spent caring for an innocent child blessed with an ungrateful mother. I served 17 years, and my sentence was long from over.