Contaminated Blood

Contaminated Blood

She became an artist at ten years of age. She went from cartwheeling, hopscotching and jump roping to a land of make-believe so she would not have to deal with reality. One moment forever, change the path of this pure funny brown girl. He took for her, he stole from her, he forever changed her and he contaminated her. A scene that still replays in her head when she’s down, hurting or fighting her way through a storm even though it was 40 years ago. He called himself her stepfather but she called him the monster that some girls only imagined that was hiding under their bed or in their closet. Hers was real life and the only way she could escape is to give her a gift she now knows God blessed her with to help her along her debris-filled path. She was the third daughter of her mothers, the funny one, the outgoing one, the one with a million-dollar smile. It is sad how someone would want to change the profile of a person. Her she was a ten forever changed, an introvert, shy with a forced grin. Funny how no one noticed but him. The only way she captured the attention of anyone was by pretending. Her career started in the bathroom sink that she climbed in to look in the mirror and act. She would put a towel around her head, swing it back and forth, smile, a laugh, and talk as if the whole world was watching. She would take her act on the road to the living room and perform for her Mom and siblings. She plugs on her 45 record player and dance, sing, and talk into the hairbrush. Her eyes closed most times to see a wider audience. Yes, it is funny where pain will take you when you have nowhere to run. They were excited and humored by her and she realized that is the only time they saw her and that when she became an artist.