Powerlessness. This is how I got here: I grew up in chaos and trauma, but my parents are not to blame. They did the best they could. I escaped in books and stories and fantasies. Disconnecting from reality

I take a sharp drag of a cigarette. It burns the back of my throat and the insides of my nostrils. I exhale with a heavy sigh. Tears slide down my face, collecting along my chin line. Thank god it's spring.