Complications

[ N ]

They never told me that story. I found that out for myself.

They told me mom was killed in a car crash when I was little.

So I grew up believing in fairy tales and princesses and fairies.

But you see, I didn’t grow up in a nice town.

I grew up watching the boys play basketball and my neighbor fall down as he rode his skateboard.

And I thought, “Why am I not like them?”

When I was eleven, and was in grade school, I noticed how girls and guys were treated differently.

So so differently.

It was unfair.

So the next day, I wore sneakers instead of sandals.

And the girls called me dirty.

And then I wore T-shirts instead of dresses.

And the boys called me ugly.

And then I went shopping with my neighbor, Ryder.

We went to a thrift shop. And I bought jerseys and wore them to school.

And one of the boys told me that I shouldn’t wear a jersey if I couldn't even play.

So I took his ball and shot it in the hoop several times.

And they respected me.

And at the time, it felt awesome.