Drowning

I

I was born in late July.
That November, I went to my new home, sicker than a baby ever should be.

I was 4 when I was adopted.
My birth parents didn't bother showing up for court, too busy with their new baby.

I was 7 when I made my first friend,
She and I were inseparable.

I was 9 and I went to public school for the first time.
I didn't have any friends there or at home anymore.

I was 10 when I made my first friend that stayed,
She wasn't a good friend after all but she stayed.

I was 11 when I got pulled out of school.
I've been homeschooled ever since.

I was 12 and I discovered that my face didn't look pretty enough without makeup.

I was 13 and my skin felt like it was all wrong. I wasn't who they wanted me to be.

I was 14 and I discovered that I didn't have to love boys, it wasn't my only option.

I was 15 and I didn't mean it, I was just confused (people tend to say what they have to with the threat of hellfire)

I was 15 and a half and I couldn't ignore it anymore, god why can't I be normal.

I was 16 and I hated myself for not being the daughter they wanted.

I was 16 and a half when I realized that if they loved me the way a parent should love a child it wouldn't matter.

I'm 17 and I'm proud.
I'm 17 and I'm gay.
I'm 17 and I'm nonbinary.
I'm 17 and everything you didn't want and everything you refuse to accept.
I'm 17 and I'm ok.