Good Girl

I wrote the below essay for the live variety show, “Show & Tell.” This month’s theme was “Undercover.” As performed March 2nd, 2024 at Scribble in Highland Park, CA.

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Like many of you in this room, I was born a baby.

Not long after, I became an adult woman in a child’s body. That’s what happens when you experience trauma after trauma after trauma.

I am going to spare you some of the details of what happened to me as a kid, but just know that I felt alone, scared and like I wanted to die.

I quickly had to figure out a way to protect myself and get my needs met. One of these ways was by being quiet, a good girl who read and did well in school.

If I was good, maybe someone would love me. Maybe someone would care for me. Maybe, I would be safe.