Was I born unlucky, or was I just too naive? I was so young, barely old enough to understand the world and its cruelty while surrounded by people who took advantage of that. This is the story of how my innocence was exploited by the needs and selfishness of everyone around me and how I used my pretend life to overcome the obstacles I faced. I have miraculously made it into my senior years and can proudly relay how I survived a life that was riddled with great challenges and sadness. I am amazed by the capacity of the mind to create survival mechanisms and thankful to share the importance of perseverance.