Stolen Youth, Reclaimed Destiny

crowd was the la

treet, falsely accused,

25th birthday-an antique smartwatc

vy, ornate trinket;

my vibrant youth withered, my

nor, terrified of aging, grew young

ty attic, telling the wo

ny, my ex-boyfriend

e escape, or

wisting a narrative: I was a fraud, me

her online posts, saw

their rage conto

on her face, as my life drained aw

h was no

or and Bethany toasting with ch

h me, a rage so pure it cou

taken e

I wo

kin smooth, my hair t

hday, the day

e watch would

ng to offer the "lif

y, two predators bound by vanity

would not b