I couldn't believe the person that I was staring in the mirror was me. She was a totally different person. Her eyes were puffy and at the corners was soiled mascara. Her hair was unruly and had lost its nice warm texture. Its blondness was fading.

I also couldn't believe the man that I called Dad had betrayed me. He was a stranger. He wasn't that man I knew that bought me popsicles or rode a merry-go- round with me. He wasn't the man that looked out for me, and made sure I didn't get ...