If You Tell a Lie

by Lucinda Berry

I shot my inner child a long time ago, along with the white horse she was waiting for someone to come riding in on to save her.

The best way to live your life was to learn to love yourself—really, truly love yourself—and accept yourself exactly as you were.

There was no bigger hole you could have than losing your mother when you were still a little girl.

Maybe that’s what happened when evil men squirted themselves inside you. They ruined you forever.

Do you know how much work it takes to pretend like you’re fine every day? To be the sunshine when you’re really the darkness?

Sometimes there were wounds you just couldn’t heal from, even after they became scars.