On Being Abandoned
I have never met a kid doing sex work who was not sexually abused, or abandoned in some way, and, likely, both.
It was bone fucking cold. Michigan in the winter. I begged my parents for at least a sweater. That was when they sat me down, I had no idea what was coming. None. “We can’t afford to feed and clothe you anymore.”
That was it. Not too complicated.
I found employment at a downtown hotel. Men wanted me.
I have worked every day of my life since that moment.
In the beginning, I was really scared. Now, that I am old, I am tired of being scared. I survived. That is all. They don’t give out medals for it.
I will not look at this video again. The long shot of the abandoned kid at the car wash with his parents pulling away is more than I choose to deal with.
Survival is not enough. As humans, we need to know how we are alive. Why are you here.
I am just now finding out.