As I sat waiting to pick up my daughter from school today, I watched the children as they walked,ran, laughed and played on their way home.

I watched the ones who laughed and wondered if they were just hiding like I did. I saw the ones who walked with their little heads bowed down and wondered if they were on their way home to a monster.

Is this normal? To see innocence and suspect all manner of depravity? Am I sick? Or am I the only one sitting here who actually may see the reality of this world?

Yes, of course I know that there are some fortunate children who never know the trauma and pain that was a daily part of my life. But the statistics prove that there are more than most are willing to even believe and thousands more that die and are beaten and it is never reported.

What did you do? I had school life where I was funny and had lots of friends and then I had the real life. The one I didn't want anyone to know about.

I read constantly to escape my home life and prayed constantly that someone would save me. No amount of telling changed one damn thing. I was always sent back.

Even after foster homes, orphanages, staying with relatives, etc. she always got us back. There was no escape.

So I pretended in my mind. That someone loved me. They just hadn't found me yet. That I would get out. That 18 wasn't so far away. Never mind I was only 6.

Anyway, just wanted to know if you pretended and what you thought about.