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At two years old, I lived in a children’s home,

Crying as I finished the veggies I didn’t want to eat.

At six, I went to daycare and made my first real friend —

We fought over who got to play the “mom,”

My very first big argument.

At nine, I lost the ability to walk

And felt completely lost.

All the feelings with nowhere to go

Were locked deep inside my heart.

At school I felt invisible,

So I drowned myself in the world of computers,

Trying desperately to find a way

To be useful to someone.

I thought I had to be strong,

To always smile no matter what.

But honestly…