****The Writing Exchange**** Sacramento, Shasta, and Butte County Juvenile Halls: November 2015

Entry #1007

Wishing Things Turned Out Different

I remember being a little girl, happy as can be.

Growing up with no father, mom all strung out on meth.

I remember feeling alone, not loved, non-important.

The horrible things I would go through as a little girl.

I remember seeing my mom hitting herself, crying her eyes out.

I remember growing older having nobody but my brother.

I remember my dad coming home, but going back to the cold cell’s within a month.

I remember my mom’s face and voice as she hit me repeatedly blaming me for thing’s I didn’t do.

I remember screaming, crying, not wanting to live anymore.

My brother holding me telling me thing’s to make me feel better.

I remember being kicked just because I was hungry.

I remember when I hit my first blunt.

I remember not caring about anything anymore.

I remember going to the fourth grade and meeting a girl I now call my best friend.

I remember my life starting to change, well as I thought.

I remember being 14 and getting a call from my best friend in the middle of the night crying, telling me her dad had passed away.

I remember the next year I was at the age of fifteen when I thought I could trust one of my oldest brothers.

I remember “My brother” coming into my room while I was sleeping and feeling his touch.

I remember crying inside scared to tell anyone.

I remember telling my best friend and only her.

I remember hiding all my feelings inside, not saying how I truly felt.

I remember feeling my parent’s failed to protect me.

I remember feeling it was my fault.

I remember being so hurt.

I remember drowning my feeling’s into a liquor bottle with my best friend.

I remember isolating myself from my family.

I remember coming home drunk fighting my parent’s, saying hurtful things and trying to end my life.

I remember getting locked up my first time.

I remember getting locked up became something to do.

I remember my mom and dad so hurt.

I remember my parent’s changing their lives for our family.

I remember being happy about that, but still dying inside dwelling on the past.

I remember feeling like juvi was nothing and the judge giving me so many chances.

I remember not going home at nights from being so drunk.

I remember waking up in a stranger’s house, scared.

I remember alcohol becoming my closet friend.

I remember drinking my last bottle with my best friend.

I remember thing’s getting out of control; seeing red and blue lights.

I remember waking up in the hall wondering what happened.

I remember going to court thinking I was getting another free pass.

I remember seeing the tears in my parent’s eyes as they watched their little girl walking back through the metal doors instead of the doors that lead to freedom.

I remember sitting in the hall with my best friend for six months, wishing thing’s turned out different.

Entry #1008

Escalating

If you really knew me, you would know that I come from a long line of family drug use and before I brought myself together, I was a coke addict. I got so bad that I started to use LSD and Acid. Violence keeps me moving and helps me get my anger out, once my fists lock they stay locked and this scares me.

If you really knew me you would know that... my mom isn't the ideal mother that she should be. I haven't had the best support from my peers. My life hasn't really been the greatest but I've always managed to come along, even when times at home were tough. I dropped out of school when I was barely a seventh grader, and I still regret it to this day because I am now two years behind.

If you really knew me you would know that... I put my walls so high up that I'm not sure if I'll ever let anyone get close to me. I try not to show so much emotion to anyone, because I'm afraid that if I do I'll get hurt and betrayed. I've lost many people in my life because of this.

If you really knew me you would know that... My mother looks at me all crazy because I want better for my life and I WANT to succeed. But she doesn't want that for me. She wants me to follow into her footsteps and become another unsuccessful person in our family tree.

If you really knew me you would know that... Today I'm working on turning my life around. I'm working my ass off in school. I'm sober as all hell and I can feel myself getting stronger day by day. I feel so good about myself. I have people who care now, myself esteem is boosted and it’s escalating by the minute. And I thank the people who have come into my life to give me the help and support I needed.

If you really knew me you would know that all my life I've ran from all of my problems, my help, and most importantly my life...

Entry #1009

I Remember

I remember when we would get drunk to feel numb.

I remember when we were all friends and nothing could go wrong.

I remember when we would do stupid stuff, just to have a little bit of fun.

I remember when I first saw you so high, you blew out a cloud like a cloud in the sky.

I remember when you told me I made you feel safe.

I remember looking into your eyes and I could see you wanted to escape.

I remember when I told you I’m here to help.

I remember seeing you so happy to be clean.

I remember when I told you it’s just you and me.

I remember when they put the cold steel bracelets on my wrists.

I remember thinking you’ve probably already left me.

Entry #1010

Counting Days

Burnt bridges and sunken stones,

Dark memories of a broken home,

Regretful actions of a wrong took path,

Hurtful words I can’t take back.

Friends lost

Dreams tossed

A lonely road is all I got,

Wishing, hoping, counting days until my life will change,

You think you know me but you don’t,

Emotions pouring like a deep slit throat,

Cut me up and wear my skin

And show me how to live again.

Entry #1011

Empty House

I was born on the floor of an empty house

At a day old I was rushed to the hospital struggling to breathe

Sexually abused at only a month old

I was sick all the time as a kid

The state of California took me away

I remember being in various foster care homes

I remember being adopted and meeting my new family

I remember my cat Oreo and my dog Davis

the holidays and expensive birthday parties

I remember starting school

I remember my Grandpa Jeffery passing away

I remember my big happy family

I remember mom and dad starting to fight

all the emotional hurt and pain

I remember the divorce

and my life turning upside down

I remember the visits with dad

My little sister being born

I remember moving

I remember going to juvenile hall

I remember going to a group home for a year and a half

I remember going to San Francisco

I remember when my relationship with mom stopped.

Entry #1012

90 Days To Think

I remember growing up in a bad situation. Listening to my mom yell, telling me to get the kids ready for school.

I remember hearing a loud knock on my front door, it was probation. They walked to my brothers room and took him away.

I remember coming home after school to my mom passed out on her bed with drugs and pipes laid out around her like ornaments on a Christmas tree.

I remember my mom going to the casino for days on end and it felt like she would never return.

I remember getting high for the first time. I would do it just to forget but all I can do now is remember.

I remember telling myself I was going to quit selling but I wanted money.

I remember the first time I came in here. I told myself I wouldn't come back when I left but here I am again.

I remember sitting in front of the judge, telling me I got another 90 days in the place I hate the most.

I remember...

Entry #1013

Gone

I miss the old days when it was just me, mom, dad, and my ten siblings. We were all set back then, chillin’, living life, until my mom got caught smoking dope. I miss the woman whose name was supposedly mom. She’s been gone…gone for wat seems like too long. My dad got caught up and is now in prison for what seems like life. I miss the old days when I was stuck at home. Now, I’m stuck in a jail cell with no more goals. I wish I could have stayed out, lived life with no doubts, but maybe that’s just wat happens when your parents are gone for so long.

Entry #1014

Wishes

I wish that I could go back in time,

that I could change the past.

I wish that I could have stayed out of trouble,

that I could have enjoyed my childhood.

I wish that I could have spent more time with my family, instead of friends.

I wish that I could go back to the day I lost a close friend.

I wish I could have valued the times I spent with my friend.

I wish that I could have my wishes come true.

Entry #1015

Mom’s Meals

I miss going out with my little brother out to the soccer fields and playing soccer and football with him and watching him enjoy every minute. I miss being home and enjoying good dinners with my family as we laugh and live in the moment. I miss going out with my girl Friday night and enjoying her company while we sit and relax and watch movies. I miss making fast money, hitting the mall the same day, and buying stuff. I miss sitting at home and drinking a cold soda while I play video games with my little brother. I miss staying up late on the phone and talking about everything with my girl. I miss relaxing on a Sunday afternoon with my cousins and enjoying the laughs and stupid stuff we do. I miss my mom’s meals that she cooks every day, being full and relaxing watching TV. I miss going out every weekend and getting home exhausted on Sunday.

Entry #1016

A Failed Attempt

A little girl

Thirteen years old

Standing in a closet with a noose

A simple scarf

Tied in a loop

Eyes burning with tears, ready to die

Ready to give up life

Not caring who will find her hanging

In the closet

She is crying

Now placing the noose around her neck

Ready to kick

The box away

To allow the scarf to end her life

She kicks it now

The noose pulls taught

The light is slowly drifting away

The room now fades

Her lips tingling

She is smiling now, she welcomes it

The room goes dark

It all goes black

There’s no turning back now, it’s done

That’s what she thought

While hanging there

Before the light faded from her eyes

But she wakes up

On crisp white sheets

The sharp clean smell of a hospital

Overwhelms her

As she lies there

With tubes inserted in her body

The monitor

Beeps crazily

Her heart rate spiking to high levels

She’s in distress

She is not dead

The group home staff had gone to ask her

“What do you want

To have for lunch?”

They think they saved that little girl’s life

That little girl

Thirteen years old

Falls unconscious again for a while

She remembers

Oh so little

Of her stay there at the hospital

The days and nights

They seem to merge

At a mental health facility

She remembers

Drugged out on meds

Those three simple words that enraged her

Three simple words…

“A failed attempt.”

Entry #1017

Leaves on a Stem

I remember when I liked to do drugs,

Regularly blacking out on alcohol,

Stealing bottles every day.

I miss using windex on my windows,

The smell of it is so tantalizing...it reminds me of home,

I love my baby sister,

13 months locked up,

I need to get out…now.

I'm slippin’

I hate drugs and alcohol now,

My life is like a never ending Fibonacci sequence,

1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21…

Like my release date, seemingly never ending,

Doesn't everything end somewhere?

Entry #1018

Focus