Many Women My Age Have Known The

There Is A Theme That Runs Through My Work, And That Is: The Toxic Property Of Keeping Secrets.

When I Was 12 Years Old, I Read Nancy Drew Mysteries And Biographies Of Madame Curie And Florence Nightingale And Books About Girls Who Love Horses Or Go To Nursing School. I Belonged To The Girl Scouts And Got A's In School And Rarely Disobeyed My Parents. I Still Kept A Collection Of Barbie Dolls In My Room, And I Almost Never Spoke To Boys.

I Compromised My Ability To Tell My Story, At The Most Basic Level.

To Share Our Stories Is Not Only A Worthwhile Endeavor For The Storyteller, But For Those Who Hear Our Stories And Feel Less Alone Because Of It.

I Continued To Protect Him With My Silence.