Extraordinary Minds: Road to Hell

Side Story: Finding Forgiveness

[Trigger Warning! This Side Story involves Rape, Drugging Implications, Gaslighting, Emotional and Physical Abuse. Please read with caution!]

When youre a child, you have a ton of dreams, yeah? From the small to the big, I had many. Back when I was still the person I dont wanna look back on, and finding myself searching for some kind of purpose.

I suppose I should tell you all my name. Aratani Ishikawa, the once Ultimate Opera Singer..however, Id rather forget those days and put them behind me for a better talent I can make use of in the future.

Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be seen on stage. To be a star, like most kids actually. Every kid I knew wanted to do something on stage. Tap dancing, Ballet, Singing..I was always more a fan of Opera growing up, especially Orchestral Opera music. In my time in the field however, it..wasnt the dream I convinced myself it would be.

I was around the age of twelve when it began. Back when..I was putting on that mask of the person I no longer am. Before I embraced the real me.

I was adorably dressed in one of my moms sparkling red dresses, and had my hair tied up, while singing Habanero into a hairbrush I used to comb my long hair.

She had caught me and surprisingly, she wasnt even mad at me.

"Sweetie?" My mom had asked, and..Me getting flustered, I about tripped on the stool and fell into the tub! Heh..Good memories.

"Your voice there..That was absolutely beautiful!" My mom said with the sweetest tone to her voice. "Can I ask though, what made you wanna put on one of Mommys dresses?"

"Uhh-Uhmm..I-I was just..Playing Dress Up!" I said to her. I hadnt come out to them yet, as..I didnt want to burden them with costs for treatments amongst other things. The potential death threats, the possibility of people making horrific accusations toward my parents..

"Sweetheart, is that true though? You know you can tell me anything, right?" My mom asked, as I felt personally cornered in those moments. "U-Uhm..Well.."

"You dont have to tell me if you dont want, sweetheart." My mom said, as..in those moments, I asked her. "Mom? Uhm..What if..I feel like..I dont belong in this body? Like..When I dress up this way, I see..something nicer! I see someone beautiful!"

"How do you mean?" She asked me, as I recall explaining. I never exactly felt comfortable in the typical clothing my Mom bought me when I was younger, and always preferred to dress super fancy. Always out there, and for people to see like the idols I used to watch on TV.

It was that day that I saw my mom genuinely proud of me. That kind loving look in a mothers eyes when you know, shes there to do as a mother should. Love and support her child no matter what. As I got older, and hit around the Age of 12, I began entering show business due to my talent getting noticed by an agent during one of my sessions at a local community center Id sing for the Elders at.

Thanks to this, I was able to sign up with a Producer who seemed like such a nice guy at first. You'd think Id know better, but around this age..To say the least, I was one of the more impressionable kids and wanted more than anything to be noticed.

I was however in for..a horrific nightmare.

Around the first few weeks of being assigned to this guy, things were great. He always gave me tips and helped me to make my dreams come true. Getting noted more and more amongst the papers, and him even pitching in to help me with my gender reassignment surgery.

Around the age of 14 however..Thats when things became..Disgusting, and times I wish I could erase from my mind. However, even if im the woman I am now..His memories are still apart of me, and will forever be part of my legacy. Part of my journey of self discovery and forgiveness..even if I still deep down resent the man who brought me all this despair.