sprite, what can I possibly say that would make any difference? What could I say that would be anything but shallow and trivial? What you suffered through, alone in your anguish, is too tragic to treat with anything but a sorrowful acknowledgement of your pain. And even that seems inadequate.

I hope you find some solace in the fact that so many of us here can relate to parts of your story. We each have our own histories, our own pain, but we also see reflections of ourselves in the naked words others leave here. Sometimes the stories are worse, sometimes they're not. But we are all marked with scars that nobody else can see. And through the compassion we feel for others, we heal ourselves.

I'm so sorry for how you had to grow up and I hope you find the peace we all are working so hard for.

Cyran0