Crystal Rankin

The Day You Know You're Strong

Growing up, having everything I have ever wanted. I had a family, pets, a big house, food in my face, friends, so many clothes, and every toy or object I wanted. I was spoiled in all reality. One day, all of that was taken away from me, and in the following months I did not even have my mother around, my life basically had to start over, I had my father, but it was not good enough when I really needed my mom. It made me feel sick, was I not good enough? Was my brother not good enough? What did we do so wrong, to the point she did not even want her own two children anymore? Years later she came back, thinking I was still the same eight-year old she left behind, but I wasn't. I was 13, doing good in my new life I established. I let her around for a while, but by the time I was 14 and 15, she just put me down all the time. Calling me names, threatening me, just straight out tried to ruin my self-esteem. At the same time high school happened, people started rumors about me and saying things about, and to me, similar to what my mother would call me.