Wait, something is off… It wasn’t the fact that I was physically shoved down to the ground by my own mother’s two wrathful hands that had smacked, pinched, and pushed me in the past – or even my father’s unsupportive silence while he was there. All of these things were my “normal.” It was you. You just stood there, and you didn’t even say a word to help me.
When a parent tucks their child into bed and kisses them goodnight, they expect to find them still sleeping soundly in the same spot when morning comes. A home is supposed to be the safest place a child can be, shielded from the dangers of the outside world. But that was not the case for six-year-old Becky Kunash. After her father lovingly put her to bed, something unthinkable happened. In the middle of the night, an intruder opened Becky’s bedroom window, entered her bedroom, and abducted the little girl. She was never seen alive again.
It is one of my hasty mornings: rushing out of the shower, dressing half-wet, and chasing the clock as if punctuality could redeem the day. I didn’t bother to check how much was left on my transport card. Surely enough, I thought, at least three figures. The machine disagrees. The red light blinks its verdict: insufficient. The buzz is annoying, but it’s no longer an embarrassment. I don’t take it personally. A month ago, that same amount of money would have carried me through a few days, but now I can’t make a trip that’s only half an hour long. Around me, others stand stranded, missing the same train, faces turned toward the platform as it departs. The government had raised the fares again. The announcement must have come the night before, cloaked in the usual language of necessity.
Marijuana is one of the most popular psychotropic substances used in the United States. In 2019, approximately 18% of Americans reported using marijuana at least once, and one in five teens between the ages of 13 and 17 said they frequently used marijuana (Oladunjoye et al. 2023). Due to the varied age groups partaking in marijuana, the usage of the substance can range from recreational use to medicinal purposes.
While she does shine, she is still abusing herself emotionally, professionally, and spiritually. She is at the beginning of her journey of self-growth, and through connection, warmth, and optimism, she’s the light of people’s hearts. But this is only the beginning, as she is discovering who she wants to be.