Unwanted Burden

This is the story of my being born to a mother who didn't want me, didn't have time for me, and developing a crippling shyness from her neglect. My father tried to make up for her neglect by showing me extra attention which caused my siblings to resent me and possibly hate me. I wasn't allowed the education or career I wanted because I was treated as if I was retarded. I wasn't even allowed to choose my own husband and suffered severely because of it. I suffered a life of neglect and abuse and have even looked down four gun barrels and lived to tell about it. In addition, this story tells how abuse affects your interaction with people and undermines your ability to trust even some in your own family. I hope this story will help others who have gone through similar situations.

On top of all of this, I didn't know about some of the people who married into my family that were only concerned about themselves and would destroy the lives of others to get what they wanted and that especially included me. I have had a target on my back since I was a three year old child.

-- Kimberly C. Vincent