Once upon a time, I was attacked. It was vicious and brutal and over with but not really over with. It was horror for years and the need for my daddy to protect and save me. It was hard and painful and still not okay. Once upon a time.
Nothing has reminded me so much of that moment as when Paula returned from captivity. Her regression into her childhood, her need for her mother, her inability to be the person that she was before. Survival is always the goal but sometimes, after the moment where you choose survival, you are not always sure where to go next.
There, but for the grace of god, go all of us.
Sometimes, being a girl is a scary thing. Sometimes, it's painful and horrible and awful. Sometimes, being an ugly boy is the secret dream. Then they won't look. Then they won't want.
Sometimes.
This post was inspired by the novel Prayers for the Stolen by Jennifer Clement. Ladydi was grew up in rural Mexico, where being a girl is a dangerous thing.She and other girls were “made ugly” to keep protect them from drug traffickers and criminal groups. Join From Left to Write on February 18 we discuss Prayers for the Stolen. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
