Memoir Through Time

3/29/24 8:19pm

When I was twelve I went to therapy for the first time. When I was thirteen I decided to live. When I was thirteen he told me never to bring a black man in this house. When I was fourteen I decided that words meant more than action. When I was fifteen I changed my mind. When I was fifteen I met my second therapist. When I was sixteen I decided to live. When I was sixteen I became my mom’s mom. When I was sixteen he told me that everything would change. When I was seventeen I believed him. When I was seventeen I met my third therapist. When I was eighteen I decided to live. When I was eighteen I didn’t know what that meant. When I was nineteen I moved away. When I was nineteen I met my fourth therapist. When I was nineteen I fell in love. When I was twenty I decided to live. When I was twenty I told my dad that I loved him. When I was twenty I told myself that any response was a good response. When I was twenty-one I called my grandparents. When I was twenty-one I decided to love.

— ODH