Ugly/pretty girl

Is it possible to be a beautiful girl but ugly?

She was a pretty little girl with long hair and beautiful brown eyes. Her skin was as clear resembling a new born babies, almost looking like if you touch it gold dust would appear on your finger.

Everything about her looked priceless and perfect. Her mother kept her in fine clothing. She was always neat, radiating elegance and beauty. Random people approach her to say how beautiful she was, to which she replied with a "thank you" and then walked away.

But the guys in the Neighborhood didn't just talk to her. They actually stared at her with a lustful look in their eye, as when she was hungry and stared at her mother's fried chicken with Mac n cheese. That was her favorite meal. That look of lust made her feel vulnerable and scared, at the least, the entire experience felt dirty.

She got close to the adults in her life to make sure she was safe. However, often they encouraged her to interact with the people their friends, some of which who have rape charges. This uncomfortableness followed her through life way beyond these interactions. She experienced these feelings on different levels throughout life. There was no one to explain these feelings to her, so she managed them the best way she could. Eventually, she tried to fix them on her own after an argument with her uncle. She really tried to fix them.

Sitting in the living room. One day, she was watching TV in the living room when he came in drunk as usual. He was extra nice coming in speaking saying Hi. Then, he grabbed his food and said "You need to wash the dishes." She stared out blankly shocked. Thinking who do you think you are to tell anyone what they should do? She thought to herself. She returned her attention to watching TV her show, ignoring his orders. As her aunt (her guardian, his sister) walked in, saying Hi to everyone. He responds "I told her to wash the dishes," he replied. Her aunt looked annoyed and went into the kitchen, starts running water. He continued saying, "She shouldn't just go to school, she needs to wash the dishes." "Did she eat?" responds the Aunt. He says, "I don't know, I just got here." "I had these dishes earlier...." "I will wash them" stated the aunt.

He started to tell the girl (again) that she would be nothing just like her mom, getting her to come upstairs crying.

After sobbing for about 30 minutes, she decided to fix the hurt of the pretty girl. She grabbed an old metal envelope cutter, picks it up and takes it across her right cheek. She pressed it hard until she left a mark on her delicate skin, which burned more when her tears fell into the wound. She continues, till she has a mark crying and sobbing. Suddenly, she heard her aunt's footsteps on the stairs, so she hid the cutter, rolled up the sheets, and swallowed her cry as long as she could, unmoving. Her aunt entered her room and asked, "Are you OK?" The girl responded just by whispering, "Yes." Then her aunt left her alone and she was stunned to sleep. Her Aunt leaves the room. She fell asleep.

The feelings of not being protected, having to be responsible while feeling and not being enough became too much for this middle school girl. Being raised in a home where a child had no voice, but many responsibilities of the adults around her became too much. Changing her life was the only option. However, and if the scare on her cheek couldn't get rid of the pain, she would try other options.

The saddest part about her story is that the adults never knew what happened to her.

As parents, do you check into your child's life? Do you know who are their friends are?

What are their friend's parents like?

How do your friends make them feel?

Do you honor them, respect their choice of not wanting to be around your friends?

Do you honor their body?