#my mom and stepdad threatened to tale my phone away

[itstimeforspring]

you outshine the morning sun, my son

obligatory bit of captain cobra while cleaning out cs wips folder. obligatory hamilton reference. obligatory baby jones. i couldn’t stop myself.

Henry Mills, to be honest, was tired of the crying.

Yes, he was a fifteen-year-old who was just now experiencing the pain of a baby sibling—Roland didn’t count; the child was walking and talking completely normally by the time they met—but he was still terribly annoyed.

Liam was adorable. According to his moms, he looked like Henry himself as a baby. Henry didn’t really see it; Liam looked exactly like Killian except with hair of a lighter brown, more like his. According to Regina, Liam was a much better baby than Henry—she said it with a reminiscent smile just tinged with pain and remembrance.

But good heavens, Liam cried so much.

He spent as much time over at Regina’s as he could, but really he needed to see Emma too. So every now and then he suffered through a night or two of a screaming six pounds of young infant.

He read to the kid as much as he could, since Killian claimed that the boy sometimes actually slept a few hours at night after said story. Therefore, Henry tried to be decent and take Liam off Emma and Killian’s hands for a while so they could get a modicum of sleep. He held the kid in one arm—after Killian showing him how to not drop the wiggling child—and flipped the pages in the book.

He could have sworn that Liam preferred the tale of Charles and Leia without being told that the two were his parents.

But seriously, the kid was starting to bug him.

One morning when Liam had kept all of them up pretty much all night and had finally cried himself to sleep at the wonderful hour of 5:30 am, he walked into the kitchen and poured himself a bowl of cereal. Emma followed him soon after, leaving Killian still asleep. He had heard Killian whispering and singing along with the crying at 5:30, so his stepdad had probably gotten absolutely no sleep before then.

“Sorry about the baby,” she said, padding over to the microwave to attempt hot chocolate.

“It’s fine,” Henry replied, trying to be a good, polite teenager. It was slowly getting harder. “How long ‘til he sleeps through the night?”

“Absolutely no idea,” Emma muttered, banging her head against the microwave before opening it and pulling out a steaming hot mug for Henry. “I asked Regina a few days ago, and she said it took almost a year for you.”

Henry sighed and took the mug without a word.

Emma stared at him for a moment, getting out her own swan-emblazoned mug. “You want to get out of the house, kid?”

Henry rolled his eyes at his cereal. “Yeah, just a bit, but there’s only so much ‘Play with me, Henry!’ from Neal that I can handle, either.”

Emma made some combination of a grin and a grimace. “Understood. So it’s crying or incessant pleading. One can communicate and the other can’t, both plusses and minuses.”

Henry nodded gravely. “Violet’s busy, already checked, before you ask.”

Emma smirked, sipping from her hot chocolate. Just then, the baby squeaked shrilly. Emma groaned. “Just a second,” she said before walking up the stairs to Liam’s room.

Henry sighed again. Just then, Killian trudged into the kitchen, probably having passed Emma in on the stairs: one fleeing the baby, the other trying to prevent another meltdown. As he scrubbed at his eyes, he hit the kitchen counter. Instead of backing up, he just collapsed into it for a moment.

“How long were you up?” Henry asked out of curiosity.

Killian didn’t move his head from its resting place on the counter. “The lad didn’t sleep at all until 5:49, so I was awake until 5:50.” Emma walked in with Liam in her arms at that moment. Killian moved his head just enough to see Emma with one eye. “Why is the little pirate awake again? I spent long enough working on the whole sleep thing last night.”

“Probably hungry.”

“Not my area,” Killian yawned, returning his head to the counter. Emma slapped him on the back as she passed by, heading once more to the microwave. If the microwave suddenly died, Henry mused, they’d probably all also perish with it.

“Eat something, Killian,” Emma said as she warmed up Liam’s bottle, the little guy making yummy noises. Henry snorted as Killian rustled around on the countertop without opening his eyes, probably trying to find the banana that Henry had left the day before.

Finally he found the banana and trudged over to sit next to Henry. Henry glanced at him occasionally as he peeled the banana. His eyes were rimmed with smudged eyeliner and dark circles from lack of sleep, but they still had that sparkle that hadn’t faded from the moment Liam was born a month and a half ago. If anything, the sparkle was brighter.

“Henry,” Killian started, and then stopped.

“Yeah?” Henry prompted.

Killian glanced up at Emma and received an encouraging nod. “I was thinking last night while trying to coax the little lad to sleep. Perhaps you and I could take a break from the house, you from this one, your grandparents, and the queen’s, and I could attempt to regain some energy.”

Henry stared at him. They hadn’t done anything like this together since before Liam was born, possibly not since Gideon was threatening Emma. “Sure, that sounds good. No wailing children and no never-ending questions. Sounds like a vacation,” he grinned.

Killian grinned in response, some of the tiredness seemingly lifted off with that grin. Emma smiled at them from behind the counter, holding Liam and his bottle. “Go get ready, then, both of you, before Liam decides we all need to spend the day admiring his feet with him.” Liam pulled away from the bottle and squeaked before grabbing at Emma’s fingers. They all smiled at the baby for a moment. He was pretty stinking cute.

Then Henry jumped up and placed his mug and bowl in the sink, then ran for his room to get dressed. Before he closed the door, he heard Emma and Killian talking and unashamedly stopped to listen.

“Where are you going?” Emma asked.

“Wherever he wants. I’ve no plans for the day,” Killian replied, that grin still in his voice.

“Both of you need it. Some grown-up guy time without an infant. Before you ask, I’ll call if there’s any trouble that Mary Margaret, David, Regina, Dr. Whale, and I all working together can’t fix.” They probably kissed right there, but Henry closed the door in time.

He yanked his shoes on and wrapped his scarf a little more securely. He had had that scarf for longer than he had known who Emma was, he mused as he walked back into the kitchen. How in the world did it still fit? As he passed his mom and Killian’s room, he heard the creaking of the leather of Killian’s brace then the click of the hook snapping into place.

He grinned. That sound was still pretty awesome even after having known Killian for more than three years.

Killian followed him into the kitchen. “So, lad, where would you like to go on this vacation day?” he asked as he walked into the living room to kiss Liam on the forehead and Emma on the lips once more. Henry shrugged and hugged his mom and patted Liam’s hand.

“No idea, let’s just get out of here,” he said. For goodness sake, going to look down the well in the woods with Killian would be better than sitting in the house with crying or sleeping infant with sometimes snappy Emma.

“You guys have fun,” Emma called as they opened the door, a faint trace of a laugh in her voice. Liam started crying when Killian closed the door behind them.

Killian stood just in front of the door for a moment, looking suddenly conflicted. “Come on, Mom’s got him. She can handle a baby without you in the house for a while,” Henry insisted, going just short of pleading and tugging at his hook.

Killian sighed. “Aye, lad, you’re right.”

“I know I am. Come on, Killian, let’s do something before Liam knocks down the door by screaming to get to you.”

Sure enough, there was a sudden reedy shriek and Emma started shushing the baby and Henry did have to pull Killian back by the hook and down the stairs. “I haven’t been without the lad since he was born. Don’t quite know how to move without making sure that the baby’s okay. I’m sorry, Henry.”

“Well, let’s just get out to the rest of Storybrooke, do something for a few hours.”

Killian grinned. “What say we go to Granny’s and get a substantial breakfast, and then take the Jolly out for a bit?”

Henry nodded vigorously. “Can I order all the bacon?”

“You may order as much as you like. Whether Lady Lucas gives you all of the bacon and eggs is her prerogative, not mine.”

Henry ended up ordering fries along with his bacon and eggs, and they played dice for the fries. Henry was getting better, way better—he ended up keeping at least 20 of the French pieces of fried goodness. They chatted about Violet and school for a few minutes until the lady herself entered the restaurant.

“How’s the baby?” Violet asked eagerly when she and her father made their way over. She hadn’t yet been invited over to see him since the kid had been born a bit early and Killian, David, and Snow were deathly afraid of transmittable diseases. Emma’s reminders about building up Liam’s immune system had not been heard or understood, so she put up with it for the sake of their selective and adorable medieval minds.

“He’s doing well,” Killian said, pulling out his phone to show off the latest picture as he was apparently obligated to do. Luckily—or unluckily—for Henry, the top picture was one of him holding Liam and reading a story from the book. Violet aww’ed adorably and Henry figured it was a stroke of good luck that that picture was the first one.

Violet’s father smiled, placing his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Vi was wondering when we could visit the little lad, if that would be fine with you and the Saviour.” He hadn’t gotten used to calling Emma any of her normal names aside from her destiny-provided calling. It was still a bit jarring.

“Any time,” Henry blurted out. He heard Killian stifle a laugh and reiterate the invitation. He didn’t really care that he wasn’t quite being treated as a fifteen-year-old, but the stars in Violet’s eyes were enough to endure it.

Violet and her father wandered away after a few minutes to devour their own food, and Killian paid with a few doubloons. As they left Granny’s, Henry asked, “How in the world do you still have doubloons? You haven’t been to the Enchanted Forest in like two years.”

“I’m a pirate, son. You’d be amazed at how much wealth I can store in the Jolly Roger.”

“So college is paid for?”

Killian threw his arm around Henry’s shoulders and leaned in to whisper, “As far as I can tell from Emma’s griping, yes, college for you and Liam is paid for.” He pulled away with a grin.

Henry groaned. He was still having to pack his lunch here, and Killian had enough stashed away for two—possibly more—college educations? Not fair.

They got to the Jolly without incident, which was an accomplishment. Normally, Henry could count at least five things that could go wrong on the way to the good old ship. Killian also managed to not look at his phone to check on Emma and Liam. That was also an accomplishment.

Killian immediately moved to the helm of the ship to check on the overall state of the ship, since he’d only managed to make it out to the docks twice since Liam was born. “Henry, would you tighten the ropes all around? I need to examine the alignment of the steering if we’re to go anywhere. That is, I suppose—” He glanced up at Henry, who was standing in the center of the deck, feet shoulder-width apart, hand resting on an imaginary sword at his side, feeling powerful and heroic. “—if you wish to leave the town?”

“Sure,” Henry said, moving over to check the sails. “I’m up for anything.” Killian grinned abashedly and ran down below deck.

Several hours later, they were drifting on the gently rolling waves, looking up at the stars. Killian had texted Emma an hour previously to inform her they’d be out late, and Emma had responded with a picture of a sleeping Liam sprawled across her lap, a glass of wine in her hand, and the Netflix home screen on the TV in front of her. Killian had laughed and told Henry they could be out all night; Emma would probably be grateful.

“What’s that one?”

“That’s Cassiopeia,” Killian said. Henry met Killian’s gaze, and Killian had an eyebrow raised in polite scolding. “You taught me these, Henry. I would never forget.”

Henry smiled. That’s what he liked—loved—most about his stepdad. If something was important to him and he told Killian, Killian would never, ever forget. “What about that one?”

Killian craned his head to see where Henry was pointing. “I believe that’s Perseus.” Killian polished his hook with his jacket for a moment. “What say we acquire some glow in the dark stars, as I believe they’re called, and put them on Liam’s ceiling over the weekend?”

“That would be cool. I always wanted stars when I was a kid, but Regina didn’t like the glow.”

“We can get stars for your ceiling too, bring back the years of childhood?”

Henry shrugged, peering up at the Andromeda galaxy. “I think I’m too old for it now, but thanks. Liam will love it though. We can do them really, really detailed, too, if we get stars that are small enough.”

Killian leaned back on the main mast, glancing at Henry even as Henry looked at him. “You’ve grown so much,” Killian said, shaking his head.

“Since when?” Henry couldn’t help asking.

Killian used his patented seriously face. “Since I met you, lad. Since before your mother decided to let me reform myself.”

Henry laughed, embarrassed. Who knew where this conversation was going, honestly. Normally, the two of them didn’t do much deep talking. “You did pretty well, I think.”

Killian scoffed quietly. “It’s all you and Emma that have managed what I am now, Henry.” He turned to face him straight. He was wearing that smile he had sometimes when Liam managed a new skill in the baby book or when Emma used her magic or that time David made scrambled eggs one-handed. “It’s not really my place to say, but I’m so proud of you, Henry. You’ve become the man I’ve always wished I could be. Emma and Regina are more proud of you than they can express, and I know Baelfire is bragging to all of the other souls about how fantastic his son is.”

Henry smiled. Sometimes, he did feel like the stereotypical fifteen-year-old and think that no one understood him, but then he remembered that Killian had been like him. David as well, to an extent, but David had never had to doubt that someone loved him like Henry did before he found Emma. Killian hadn’t had anyone for years, when his brother was working and he was alone for days. Sometimes, Killian knew exactly what to say.

Killian returned the smile and nodded before looking back at the sky. Then they were silent for another hour except for comments about the sea, its smell and chill and glow. The silence was rejuvenating.

It approached midnight and Killian yawned. “What say we begin the journey back? I imagine Emma’s ready for a break from the lad at this point.”

Henry nodded, taking one more look at the stars before heading up to the helm. He didn’t remember the last time he was so calm.

“Henry?” Killian asked, still standing against the main mast.

“Oh, right. Can I steer on the way back?”

“Of course. You don’t need to ask, Henry.” Killian stepped up to stand next to Henry. He took a deep breath. “Liam is the luckiest child in the world, you know that? He’s got Emma for his mother, and he’s got you for a big brother.” Killian’s face turned serious. “I couldn’t wish for a better life for my son, and I never imagined I could be as blessed as you’ve blessed me.” Henry hugged Killian suddenly, letting himself bury his head in Killian’s shoulder. Killian wrapped his arms around Henry tightly.

They stood there for a few moments before pulling away. Henry grabbed ahold of the wheel again, grinning as Killian fake-scowled and trudged down to the ropes. The entire journey back to Storybrooke, Henry barely held back a grin.

When they got back to the house, Emma was holding a sleeping Liam. She passed the baby to Killian to hug Henry before sending him up to bed. He hugged Killian again briefly and kissed Liam on the cheek, then he took the stairs up to his room.

He stopped halfway up the stairs to listen. He heard Liam squeak in his sleep, probably as Killian and Emma hugged. “How was the trip?” Emma asked.

“It was wonderful,” Killian said. “He’s as good a sailor as myself, probably better.”

Emma laughed softly, trying to avoid waking the baby. “Jealous?”

Killian mirrored Emma’s laugh. “I’ve never been prouder of anyone in my life.”

#captain swan #ouat #cs ff #ouat ff #captain cobra #my ff

[diasilek-blog]

Some of my story

Just to preface this: i am not dx with PTSD or CPTSD. I have not spent much time in therapy to share all of this. But will share it with my current therapist. Thanks for listening if you make it to the end you deserve all karma. I am sorting this by houses and places I've lived as it's much easier for me to remember that way, provided is the place I lived the the ages I was.

The apartment 0-1.5

I remember nothing no surprise there

House 1 1.5-4

Remember barely anything. Know that father and mother were together but father was an angry alcoholic however mom notes the nicest person when sober. I suppose an abusive father and Vietnam can do that to you. Mother tells me some frightening stories of him but also continues to note he's a teddy bear when sober. My aunts confirm this as well. My father was also a semi driver so he was often gone. Probably a good thing. There are 4 things I know about my dad (Now, not then) He drove truck, was an alcoholic, played drums in a band, and was in the Vietnam war.The only thing I visually remember is rice aroni for dinner, what I thought was a GIGANTIC spider on a lightbulb in the basement, and my room. I can also see those black and white fillagree like brogue oxford dress shoes next to a closet. Oh and those bouncy horses. When my mom was selling the house a buyer can through with her daughter and She got on the horse - I pushed her off. Other than that really nothing else. Father divorces my mom when I'm 3.5 and moved to California to be with his mistress. He ends up in a psych ward for what was either a ptsd episode or schizophrenia. No one I ask knows for sure. And I can't imagine actually asking him.

Quadplex 4-6

It's just my mom and me and our cat. I remember little from this period as well except for the following: eating Oreos for breakfast, slamming my head into a waterbed headboard and needing stitches, and sticking tweezers in a light socket, oh and making friends with neighbors next door. There are more but those seem the most prominent. Oh I'm also in daycare; I have fond memories of that at least. I don't hear from my father at all. I make 2 "friends" at daycare. They take turns ignoring me, forcing me to choose between them, and telling me I need to buy them toys to be their friend. I think about asking my grandma to buy me three jewel trolls. My mother meets someone new. I start kindergarten.

Duplex 6-9

My mother marries someone new. He seems nice. We move into the duplex. I don't remember a whole lot from this time besides my bedroom, the layout, pretending to run away in the back yard, eating chives, learning to ride a bike and then seeing my step dad kick my cat down the stairs. I'm still in daycare. Those girls are gone now.

House 2 9-11

I find out a girl from school lives across the street. We become inseparable. I am a little too eager for friendship and call her at 6am some days. Her family is annoyed with me. I can tell. We make friends with other neighborhood kids. One is a boy. Both of them start "dating" and exclude me from everything. Back to no friends. I ask my mom to intervene but she clearly doesn't want to. Eventually friend and I see each other at school on the playground. I tell her I have the new Nintendo system and now she wants to come over and play. This is how friendship works I guess.

I meet a girl in 3rd. Eventually we become good friends. I am always too eager for friendship. I call her one afternoon, we talk, then she says to hold on. I hold for 3 hours and then hang up. She becomes friends with the popular crowd and eventually I am left behind. I remember listening to "I will always love you" by Whitney Houston and wanting to dedicate it to her. My mom says she doesn't think that's what the song is about. I wonder What was wrong with me?

I start soccer and am terrible at first. My father comes to visit infrequently. I am basically forced to see him but I have no desire. My father and grandmother come late to a soccer game and they take me for the afternoon. I am scared and angry but they still take me. It's not as bad as I think it will be and I start to equate him to Fishsticks. They never sound good at all but then I eat one and it's not as terrible as I thought it would be. So, it's not always bad with him.

Eventually it is planned that I stay at his house one night. He lives directly across the street from my grandmother. At first it is fun however there are empty cardboard 12 packs lining his wall. I’m only 11ish so I find it disconcerting but I’m not sure I know the extent. We play a game centered around being a truck driver. I sense some pride inside for my father and his career. My father asks if I want to play pool in the basement. We go downstairs. I see his drum set. He teaches me the basic 4/4 beat. Somehow we begin talking about his time spent in the war. I don’t know what comes over me or why I decide to ask him, but the words just kind of come out. I ask him if he killed anyone in the war. He is visibly upset and says he’d rather not talk about that. Things are very awkward after this and he tells me he thinks I should go back over to my Grandma’s house and not spend the night. I leave.

House 3 11-18

Lots of good lots of bad. My father moves back to our state 1995. He's been gone for 7 years. Still not sober.

I initially meet a girl who seems to come from some dysfunction. Her mom is nice though however there is a guy who hangs around a little older than us. We go to my house and he breaks into my stepdads liquor cabinet. I freak out on him, he then goes into our garage and punches many dents in my step Dads car. I call my mom and they call the police. He runs. They catch him and eventually let him go after whatever punishment they gave. When he was back I got a call from him and his friends threatening me for money. I visited the girls house one day and he and his friends waited outside the house. I was terrified to leave but with my friend and her mom watching I walked home.

I play indoor soccer and my dad shows up with my grandmother to a game where is visibly intoxicated. He tries to find his way to our bench - I am mortified and crying but trying to hide it.

Eventually I meet a friend who I become very close with. She is basically a sister for me and still is to this day although we are a few states a part. I finally get to see what a normal family dynamic looks like. My father calls every few months when he is drunk. I hate it. He wants me to know that my stepdad isn't my real dad and that he is my dad. My whole body is tense. My step dad is always angry, emotionally mean and abusive to my mom. They argue about the dumbest things and he is mean. There are always eggshells to walk on and I am always angry with him. I want my mom to stand up for herself and there are many times she tells me she wants to divorce him. I tell her if support her in that decision. There is a night where things get really heated and I finally step in, crying I tell them to stop fighting and lock myself in my room. Eventually my stepdad comes knocking and he’s crying profusely apologizing. It felt so awkward.

Soccer continued, I become really good. I’m on varsity my sophomore year and am not happy about it. I’ve played soccer for the last 8 years with the same people. I am asked during Spanish class what I will be doing this weekend, I mention there is a varsity soccer sleepover. A past friend of mine thinks I’m bragging and tells everyone on my old team that I think I’m better than them. Some don’t talk to me for a while. Soccer was one of the best things my mom ever put me in. I am honorable mention in the state that year. The next year I experiment with marijuana and start smoking. I’m not as good the next year. Senior year I decide not to join – eventually I do after seeing a game and missing it. Definitely not as good as I was. In fact I suck in comparison.

I obsess over the availability of the internet and the vast expanse that it allowed me to explore. I make friends online and develop relationships with people. Eventually at 16 I fall head over heels for someone (Guy A) who lives in another state. We bond over music and I am hooked. He surprises me on Valentine's Day by showing up to my house after asking my mom her permission it's a fucking fairy tale. I am also only 16. I visit home once at his house and it is the first sexual experience I have. Long distance didn't work and my heart shattered. He would come and go out of my life for a few years. I meet another guy through the internet (Guy B). We bond over music and I fall hard. We talk for a year, on the phone, through netmeeting, aim, and even texting (nokias!). I graduate.

I attend my (very close friend who is like a sister)’s graduation. We are hanging out with 2 of our friends who attend a different school. They bring a friend with them. We drink a lot. There is a tent we all plan on sleeping in. We pile in and the friend we don’t know lays next to me. We all try to fall asleep. Until he does it. Out of nowhere reaches into my pants and touches me. I’m really not sure how long this lasts. After it stops I wait until I think he is asleep and then I go home. I tell no one.

I continue speaking to Guy B. He informs me he will come and visit. I am ecstatic. I forget about what happened in the tent. Guy B visits, I end up getting really sick and it turns out to be mono. (Which I think I got a month prior while still in school when one night I went out with friends and got super plastered and made out with a guy I didn’t know where he also stuck his hand down my pants but I didn’t stop him. I had hickeys all over my neck and my soccer team makes fun of me) The week with Guy B was amazing. He left and I was hopeful. But once he got back home he stopped talking to me. Eventually telling me he couldn’t take the distance and that one of us would eventually need to move. Another shattered heart. My step dad is still mean. I remember riding in the car with him and my mom when someone either cut him off or break checked him. He proceeded to tailgate them, cussing, yelling, swerving side to side. The car in front went faster and so did he. It was terrifying. My mom eventually yelled at him to take us home.

College Dorm 18-18

I start college and make it half a semester. I know no one and the social anxiety is terrible. I move back home and see a psychologist who diagnoses me with social anxiety.

Home 3 18-19

I’m back home. My mom wants me to find a job; a stipulation of dropping out of college. She finds a job listing for a warehouse worked disassembling computer equipment. It’s night shift, but it’s money and it’s stability I needed at the time. The company is amazing and I am very fortunate. My sister friend has been dating a guy for a very long time and they ask me to come bowling. I meet my first long term boyfriend. He is my friends boyfriends best friend. He is also 7 years older than me. I lose my virginity to him after basically telling myself “Well, this is it” It wasn’t the experience I was hoping for.

I basically end up living with him and his roommate.

1st BF House 19-20

I’m back and forth between houses but mostly at his. He works days, I work nights. I wake up one morning and he’s at work; I spot a camera under his tv stand. It’s on, and it’s recording. I’m baffled. I watch it. It’s basically nothing but me sleeping. I question him about it and he states that he just wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to do anything (not sure what that includes) For some reason I let it slide. We date for 2 years. I have gained some weight since 18. I wasn’t anywhere near unhealthy but I wasn’t in the greatest shape. We get a dog together. I start running with the dog. 1 year later I’m in the best shape ever. This dog is my life. I’m drinking lightly at this point but running causes me to not want to drink. But I do smoke cigarettes after my runs. Go figure.

1st Apartment 20-21

We live together. When we move I’ve been sort of back in contact with my father. He offers to help us move. Up to this point we are very off and on, maybe once a year we speak. I am still running. My job is going well and I move to first shift as well as moving departments. I begin doing inventory and being a computer repair technician. Things are ok.

I decide to go back to school for what I thought was my passion – graphic design. I attend a local community college. My boyfriend says to not take many classes or I may end up in the same situation as before. I honestly think he just doesn’t want me to advance myself or meet other people. One day on my way to school I remember that my dad is living in an efficiency in a motel nearby. I find some courage that day to confront him. To ask him about what happened. He’s not there when I knock on his door but just as I’m about to leave I see him pull up. He’s gone to the store to buy another 12 pack of beer. So much anxiety at this point. Ultimately I ask him why he left, he doesn’t give me a good answer (as if there would be one) he just said sometimes 2 people just drift apart. This doesn’t explain why he was never around. Days later, on my way to school I am listening to music, a favorite thing of mine to do, when all of a sudden I feel disconnected from everything. The music sounds different. I can’t “feel” it anymore. It’s pretty much been that way since.

After coming home from my half semester away at college I’ve been experimenting more and more with illegal substances. Almost everything except for Meth and Heroin. I don’t consider this to be necessarily negative. I was always safe about my experiencing making sure to check Erowid for stories, information and overall preparedness before we’d ever do anything.

Guy A contacts me online and my current boyfriend and I are arguing a lot. Intimacy basically never exists in my relationships so they are always rocky. I find escape in talking to Guy A again. I sneak out to see him one night and my current boyfriend finds out. He is very hurt and wants to end it. The next morning I try to smooth things over, I am panicking. He goes to work and I am supposed to eventually go to mine. I can’t think about anything other than he is going to leave me. I don’t even get dressed for the day, I get in my car and follow him to his work. I am in survival mode basically. I need to know that I won’t be abandoned or left again by someone. I feel crazy. Things eventually smooth over.

Home 3 21-21

Months later I decide to move home and he moves in with his old roommate into a duplex. I am running even more now with our dog. The dog lives at his house and I miss him terribly. We still fight and argue and I’m still unable to develop real intimacy with him. I continue to seek connection outside of the relationship but know that I shouldn’t. I can’t remember how this happened but I must have given my number to someone online and they began contacting me. My boyfriend found out and was again hurt and this time very angry. Threats of breaking up occurred over the phone. I went to his house and banged on his glass sliding door screaming on the patio. He wouldn’t let me in, and again I felt that panic that sets in when someone is about to leave you. I think eventually he let me in out of pity. Some form of reconciliation happened. I tried as much as I could at that time to connect with the person I was supposed to connect with. I wasn’t able to. I eventually ended it on my own terms AFTER I had met someone else at work. It’s a pattern of mine to do that. He takes my dog with him. I don’t see him ever again. It’s extremely heartbreaking for me. I loved that dog. I eventually get a new dog a few months later to fill the void and that dog is still with me.

I date this person from work for 6 months or so and we break up, after I run into someone I went to high school with who I had a major crush on.

Apartment 2 21-22

I move into a new apartment with one of my good friends. I’ve been able to make a few friends at this point. At this point I’ve been working for that same employer since I was 18. I’ve since moved from the warehouse into the office doing work on their website and marketing material. I haven’t finished my graphic design degree and decide to switch my major to marketing. I begin making some good money at this point and am fairly comfortable. I’m dating the guy I knew from high school. I also know that since high school he had developed an addiction to heroin. When I meet him he claims he is clean. I’ll find out later that he definitely isn’t. One day I go out and about while he’s still at my home. I come back to find that he’s vacuumed my stairs which is super nice of him and then I see my dog. His eye and surrounding area is 3 times the size it should be. I ask my boyfriend what happened and he says the dog peed on the stairs after he cleaned them. He fucking punched my dog.I don’t know why I stayed with him. I eventually left after he continued to lie to me about using. This time I didn’t have a back up. It was the first time I actually did something healthy for myself in regards to a relationship. I meet someone at my cousins wedding. We see each other around afterwards.

My friend decides to move back home. I find an apartment in the same complex with a 1 bedroom and move. I get a call from my doctor after an abnormal pap, it comes back with CIN III dysplasia. I don’t quite know what this means as far as fertility and my overall health. I have a leep procedure and am lucky that it gets rid of it all. 6 months later I am HPV free.

Apartment 3 22-24

Guy B calls one night randomly. Guy B and I continue talking, he’s saying all the right things to me and is regretful of how it ended between us. I am kind of talking to guy I met at the wedding. Guy B and I bond again over music and I plan to go and visit him. Guy at wedding wants to date. I’ve booked a flight to go see Guy B. I don’t know what to do. I think I should go for what I feel is a sure thing with wedding guy. Guy B hurt me the last time we were together. I end up cancelling my flight with Guy B and calling that off. I date wedding guy for a few months, but I’m not feeling a connection. Somehow guy A ends up in my town and we meet up. I do things I shouldn’t with him while I’m in a relationship wedding guy. I break it off with him. I get a hold of Guy B and apologize. I make plans to visit him on new years. The week I spend there is awesome but I have this sinking feeling that the situation will only end the same as it did before. At the end of the week he drops me off at the airport. He only gives me a hug and leaves. I am devastated because I know this is it. I cry for hours in the airport and am approached by a random stranger who was in town for a lighting project. He comforts me and tries to calm me down. I am appreciative of his compassion.

I date a few people here and there and eventually meet someone. I like him, my friends basically hate him. I should have known, for some reason I am always hooked on people who aren’t good for me. within 3 months I am pregnant. I remember the night, we use a condom but find it has broken. The next day I take plan b. I think everything is ok until I miss my period. I am not sure what to do. I do tell 4 people. My mom, 2 friends, and a coworker who has become a mentor to me. I am thankful for this support network.

This guy has a career he has worked very hard for and is continuing to work hard on. I tell him I am pregnant and he is very supportive at first. But he wants me to consider abortion. He is afraid he will resent the child for not allowing him to pursue his dreams. I am torn. I have always wanted children – but not in this way. Knowing he would resent his child or the possibility of him resenting his child just reminds me of my childhood and not having a father. I don’t want to put any child through that. I decide to terminate. Before I can do that I need a counseling session. Boyfriend comes there with me. I am definitely not ok but am going through it anyways. I breakdown on the phone with a nurse when I scheduled the appointment.

My boyfriend is out of town for work on the day of the abortion. I go by myself, have to watch a short film, and then take a pill. I will need to take one more later on. There is a group of students doing a study and the doctor wants to know if they can watch me while I take the pill. I agree for some reason. It was all over so quickly. I am ushered out of the building and walk to my car alone. I feel guilty and numb and sad and so very alone. I go to my parents’ house and wait it out. All of the things that happen happen and my mom is there for me. I go back to my apartment that night and take a bath. While taking my bath a feel a weird sensation and one last clot is passed – it’s large, and it’s not something I wanted to see. It’s floating in the bath with me. I scoop it out and throw it in the toilet.

I’m sure my boyfriend is relieved but I am the one that lives with this. He tells me I have 3 days to mourn and then it’s something we need to get over.

I have a hard time living with this decision. It causes many issues in our relationship. He gets fired from his job. We go see his family in his home state. I see how terrible he is to his mother. Why am I still in this relationship? Somehow his mother and us are talking and discussing babies and I have no idea how abortion is brought up but she says “you better not be aborting my grandbabies!” I break down.

Eventually he finds a job out of state. I basically beg him to take me with. We move, all 3 of us, which includes his roommate. They have been best friends for years and I am constantly the third wheel.

Apartment 4 24-25

Lots of things happen here. Most of it is extremely toxic. My boyfriend and I argue so often. I am still seething from the abortion and am resentful. I find that he’s joined a dating website. He says he only did it in case we don’t work out.

I find a job relatively quickly and will work there for the next 3 years. It is also extremely toxic for me. He loses his job fairly quickly.

When my boyfriend and I fight I tend to not remember most of the arguments. I think I remember what I say but when we fight about things we’ve said he disagrees with me and tells me that’s not how things happened and I start to feel crazy. I find a document on his computer that is titled “what -myname- says during arguments” and I do not open it. He says he keeps it so he has proof of what I say. Is he gaslighting me? am I really crazy, do I really not remember things correctly? I am so confused.

Maybe I am the perpetrator?

Many nights are spent fighting, I can’t remember what they were about now. I remember the anger in his face when he was trying to leave the apartment to go for a walk and I remember the panic that set in as I shrunk into a ball on the floor. Another panic attack when someone threatens to leave. He walks out and I gain the composure to try and find him. I find him and I yell at him for not being there for the abortion about him not having to deal with what I dealt with. I’m sure everyone in our apartment complex can hear us.

I find he’s actually been talking to girls on this dating website and I go stay at a hotel for the night. A few months later he finds a job in his home state and moves back, he wants me to come with. Instead I’ve been looking at apartments and sign on one. I am terrified of being on my own. I don’t move with him, I stay.

Apartment 5 25-28

I am finally alone with only my work relationships. I try to make friends with the girls there but they are not my kind. My boss likes to use intimidation and vitriol to manage our department. Most days I have anxiety about going to work.

I find someone online and we begin dating. He is dx bi-polar and takes medication. He consistently claims he is no good for me and that he has never dated someone as normal as I am. I am not really normal there is just a very convincing façade.

The relationship is mysterious and not stable. Eventually he breaks up with me and I am fired from my job for declining performance I think but they don’t give me a reason and I am kind of devastated but also kind of relieved.

I give it a few months and am applying for jobs here and there. I have a quick stint at a VA job fair for a week. I begin talking to someone on okcupid, but have decided that I should probably move back home. After the job fair is complete I pack up some bags and drive home to visit. I continue talking to this new person through okcupid and now texting. I am applying for jobs in my hometown. I am getting requests for interviews. I’m not sure what I should do. I go back home and meet the person I’ve been texting with. He’s very sweet and kind and I think sexual things may have happened too quickly, but he cares and for once I finally feel safe somewhere. I get an interview for a company and eventually get the job. I’m making good money and things are starting to level off. New guy and I connect quickly and there is no doubt that there is finally something stable, good, and loving in my life. It is quick though when we become pregnant after talks about wanting children. We really didn’t think that would happen so quickly. I am kind of shocked but we are both excited. I know we’ll need a place to live and neither of our places suited so I set out to buy our first house. My credit was good enough at that point.

Final House 28-32

We move into the house when I’m 4 months pregnant. I am proposed to on mother’s day with the rocky II proposal. Thing are great. We have our daughter by c-section and it’s the most emotional and happy I’ve felt in my entire life. We both cry. Breastfeeding isn’t easy and she has lots of phlegm so when she spits up she has a hard time breathing. I develop post partum anxiety over feeding her and eventually get prescribed anxiety medication. Life goes on there is depression and I’m having a hard time being intimate.

It seems as though intimacy is always easy for me in the beginning of relationships but as they progress it gets much hard for me to connect. And it’s not just with my husband but with my kids as well. Oh yeah, we have another child after we get married. These kids are the fucking best and I am SURROUNDED by love all of the time. I think sometimes it is so overwhelming. I have never felt this before. I actually have a group of friends who care about me and who care about each other and it is entirely evident that these people are the best people I’ve ever had in my life. I sometimes feel I don’t belong and have a hard time relating. I still have anxiety and issues and my drinking has increased throughout my life. I no longer do any type of drugs.

I am currently a business analyst for a different company and I absolutely love what I do. I have a caring employer and I feel as though my life has done a complete 180. I am extremely fortunate but I have a hard time feeling that. I know in my brain that I am safe but that is not how my body feels most of the time. Intimacy between my husband and I is pretty nonexistent but he is very supportive. I just feel bad that I am unable to give him what he needs. I am in therapy every 2 weeks. I want to get better for him and our family. She seems to be the first therapist I feel has some understanding and concern for me. I am trying very hard to be present here and to enjoy what I have but it is very hard to do. I have dermatillomania as well. I am working on that, and it doesn’t bring me as much shame as it used to. I feel lots of different things but I think confusion is the most common feeling. There is so much more but I’ve already wrote a book.

If you’ve read this far thank you. Sorry for the mess and jumble The chronological pattern is based on where I lived verse my actual age. So I hope the skipping around in certain sections isn’t too confusing.