Introduction

"I imagined most people could look at the coffee table in their childhood home without feeling the pang in the back of their head from where it had cracked against the corner. I'm sure they could sit on their couch without having flashbacks of being pressed deep into cushions, struggling for breathe. They could venture into their kitchen for a snack without remembering how hot the stove had felt, centimeters from their backs.

I didn't have that luxury

This entire house felt like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. I didn't want to spend another second inside of it."