It was a winter well spent, surprisingly l had time to make memories.

You see, my home life made it hard to make friends. I had eight younger siblings to take care of, along with two older brothers- most cherished. While they got to live life to the fullest, I became a mother to children that weren't my own.

My household had always been patriarchal, even when my father walked out two years prior for his new younger lover.

My oldest jobless brother learned to raise his hands against us on days, he was most bored. My mother worked three days per week, cleaning homes then getting drunk or going to the nearest bar.

At age thirteen I was begging on the street, at fourteen I was cleaning tables, paid bills, the government couldn't pay for us. I dreamed of leaving, walking away and never looking back. The resentment was uncanny.

Kelly made it better, i looked forward to weekend and lunch breaks, were we would have meaningless conversations.