Reading your story really hit home for me; the whole notion about pretending to be someone else to cover up what we are really like inside? It made me think a lot. It just shows that so many of us are in the area trying to live up to what other people expect and, in the process, we are burying what we actually want to become. There can possibly be gratification in your knowing that I, for one, comprehend why stories and the real feelings of people matter so much. Your tale, with its ups and downs, is more than just words...it's a reminder to keep trying, no matter how tough things get. What really upset me were the dreams your mom and great-grandmother had. It feels like there's something larger guiding you, sending hints that maybe we are not as alone in our struggles as we think. One, if they so choose, may ponder about the ways the universe speaks to us in components and pieces we hardly expect.

Your toughness in bouncing back from rough times gives people hope...truly. Essence magazine could share your story, and I believe it would touch others the same way it did me. Continue to share your experiences because it makes a difference for others who might be going through their own battles, silently wearing their masks.