What's my story? Well, I was fooled into this kind of life. I wanted to be an artist living in one of those big studio apartments. It all started the last week of January 1974...2 years ago. My friend (well use to be friend) Barbara approached me one day. She asked if i wanted to "runaway and make money." I thought she meant live in the cities or traveling around in a van with makeshift jobs. I should have noticed that there was something different about her. At the time her eyes were darker than usual and she had this weird smile on her face. She told me to go home and meet her at Johnson's house at midnight. I was so anxious to get out of the constant cycle of abuse and debt. There would no longer be sleepless nights and drunken acts of anger.Man was i wrong. At midnight I got out of bed, a big smile on my face. I packed a bag and everything. I cautiously made my way out of the house and out on to the street. I ran all the way to Johnson's little shack by the city. The familiar smell of weed was in air and there were these loud voices coming out of the house. I walked in and saw all these girls in bright clothes and they reeked of perfume. I made my way past them, into Johnson's room. He was in bed with Barbara. He smiled when i walked in. Not just a normal smile, but one of those smiles that sorta rubbed you the wrong way. He was acting different. He got out of bed and stroked my face softly. "Your first customer wants you to meet him at the motel in times square in an hour, go make yourself pretty. you look like crap." He said to me, then leaned down and kissed me. I felt worth something, despite the fact he said i looked like crap. Before i could ask any questions i was shoved out the room. I made my way into the bathroom and then put on a tight sparkly dress and some make up...looking for the approval of Johnson i made my way out of the bathroom. "Ah, that's my girl." he said to me. I felt loved. Once i left the house and went to the hotel, i saw a dirty large looking man waiting outside. With a little waiver in my confidence i walked towards the doors. "Are you Coriander?" He asked. I just nodded my head yes. He grabbed my arm roughly and dragged me into the hotel. "Hey what are you doing?! Let go of me!" I yelled at him as i tried to get him off. He took me into this room and threw me on to the bed. My heart started racing as i felt his hands going up my dress. "Stop!!" i yelled. "shut up." He growled and slapped me. At this point i was sobbing. He raped me. I felt dirty. Just as i got up to leave, he pulled me down and whispered into my ear "that was fun doll." and tucked a one hundred dollar bill down my shirt. When i got back to Johnson's house, i immediately ran into his room and broke down and told him what happened. I looked up at his reaction. He was smirking "Welcome to game." He whispered in my ear as he bent down and took the money out of my bra. "what?" i asked with my mouth open in shock, my heart daring to jump out of my chest. I shook my head no. "What? No! I want out!" I jumped and got ready to run. Before i could even make it out of the door, He grabbed my hair in his fist and pulled me on to the floor. (Improv: choked up, stuttering)"You work for me now and you will not tell me what you want or don't want" he said almost snarly as he beat his fists into my face and body. "Learn to behave, you piece of trash." All i remember from that moment was thinking "I was wrong." From then on i was in a constant cycle of getting beat, having my money taken and sleeping with 6-8 different strangers a night. Sometimes when his friends came over to get their drugs, he'd let them take turns on us. I was not me anymore. Only an empty shell. I no longer felt pain, emotionally that is. I wanted to runaway all over again but there was a part of me that felt loved, a part of me that would feel guilty if I left him. I didn't know what to do anymore. (Improv: frustrated sighs and tears) I lost all hope that someday, that one day someone would rat him out and help us.
One day Johnson went out to protest. We waited hours for him to come back. One of the girls turned on the tv. The news was on. They were reporting the anti-vietnam protest. They were listing the people who were arrested. There right on the tv was Johnson's name. I broke down into happy tears but there was a dull pain in my chest. I didn't know what i was going to do. I packed my bag and made my way to the train station. I figured if i ran away again, i could start anew.I bought a ticket to Albany, MA. I rented a small apartment and started working at this here coffee shop. This brings us to today, Officer. You came into the shop at 9 am and recognized me as the Manhattan girl who ran away 2 years ago. Y'know i'm surprised someone even filed a report. Now officer, tell me the consequences.
