My mother and stepfather both treated me very well. But in the end, I could never feel that I was fully a part of this family.

In the eyes of the other islanders, I was always "that pitiful child".

All sorts of comments would make their way to my ears. From the beginning, I had just endured it, pretending as if I didn't hear.

But as time went on, This type of talk took up more and more of my space, constricting me, making me unable to breathe.

back up

Adults would move to cover my ears.

It's too bad that rumors and gossip are like flowing water -- they'll find their way through the crevices around your fingertips, finally carving themselves into my brain,

...into my memories.

I actually was not happy.