4900
My war with life started early.
Although both of my parents were in my life, my home was still broken.
My father was battling his inner demons, drugs and heavily drinking.
My mother tried her best to raise me and my siblings on her own, but she was also battling with her inner demons.
Consumed with bitterness and anger towards her own mother, it prevented my mother from showing us love and affection.
Due to a horrible accident, my oldest brother was paralyzed from the neck down and left him speechless.
My youngest sister was born with a cliff palette, which affected her speech and made her the target of bullying.
As a young child, I had to be strong for my siblings and I couldn’t show any weakness.
Unfortunately, my strength was challenged when I lost my virginity to my uncle who was pedophile.
The hurt, betrayal and pain could never be explained.
Carrying this secret on my heart was too hard for me to bare as a child.
I had no one to talk to and no one to turn to.
I had to deal with it on my own and still try to be strong for my siblings.
Lost, confused and slowly losing control, I was becoming unraveled and emotional.
As a teen, I started to fill out and attract the attention of grown men.
They preyed on my innocence and vulnerability.
They would whisper sweet things in my ear and tell me what I wanted to hear.
Showering me with money and gifts just to have sex with me and keep my attention.
I felt myself slipping further into the darkness and tormented by my fear.
By the age of four-teen, I was following in my father’s footsteps battling with cocaine addiction.
Juggling school, work, my demons and taking care of my siblings, I was trying my hardest not to break.
I managed to maintain good grades and through God’s grace, I had enough credits to participate in my high school graduation.
Just when I thought my life was turning for the better, my brother passed away.
I began to spiral out of control again and my demons came back to haunt me.
One night I was drinking and snorted seven lines of cocaine.
I started feeling sick, my head was spinning, and my heart was beating fast.
All I could feel was my muscles tightening and my body in excruciating pain.
I could here the sound of the death getting close.
Tears filled my eyes as I begged God to spare my life.
I didn’t want to die from an overdose.
My life was spared that night.
When I say, that was the moment I turned my life around, please believe me.
A year after I got out of the hospital and got cleaned, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
I’ve been cleaned for twenty years.
I have had the most adventurous life and I have explored five of the seven continents of this world.
I married a wonderful man who shows me unconditional love every day and gave birth to two beautiful girls.
This year, I retired from the U.S Navy as the rank of a Chief.
After everything I have been through, I can proudly say that my life is my testimony.
Through the pain, hurt, tears and the grief,
I survived it all.
No matter what life threw at me, I stood my ground and refused to give up or fall!
I didn’t post this poem for praise or attention.
I posted this poem as an inspiration.
We all have battles and we all can conquer each one!
