I am the daughter of working parents who have little time for their five children

At age nine, I have my first period and hide this fact during five years from my parents

At age fifteen, I am raped by a man who hits me and threatens me

At age fifteen, I do not suspect my pregnancy

At age sixteen, my unwanted child dies

At age seventeen, I use my mother’s tranquilizers

At age eighteen, I cut and burn my body and drink alcohol

At age nineteen, my suicide attempt fails

At age nineteen, I feel safe in the comfort of my shared life with my beloved wife

At age nineteen, I drink excessive amounts of alcohol

At age twenty-four, I am being asked too much by my wish-child

At age thirty-one, I divorce the father of my second child and am sober

At age thirty-six, I am independent, and secretly drink

At age forty, my boyfriend is dependent on drugs and on me

At age forty-one, my boyfriend rapes and abuses me every day

At age forty-one, I drink and my friend gives me cocaine without my knowing

At age forty-one, I am submitted to enforced psychiatric treatment after a nervous breakdown

At age forty-two, I snort heroine, drink continuously, and no longer defend myself against being raped and abused

At age forty-two, I am convicted for the illegal possession of guns, after my boyfriend has shot at me

At age forty-three, in a state of apathy and self-neglect, I allow my boyfriend to terrorize and blackmail me, use heroine and cocaine, and deal in drugs

At age forty-five, I live in agony, am arrested, convicted, and endure my punishment