Stages Poem by Shannon Hart

I was molested at 5 by my own father.
I was raped by my stepfather from age 9- 11.
At 12 Mom sent me to live my Father
At 12 he raped me until I was 15.
I was raped by a boyfriend and his friends at age 16.
From 17-20 I was in an abusive relationship.
At 20 I lost my mother to AIDS.
From 20-21 I began prostitution.
From 21-22 I began stripping to live.
At 22 I married a man I hardly knew.
At 24 we seperated and I began smoking crack.
At 26 I met my best friend.
At 26 I stopped smoking crack.
I was still married to my first husabnd,
And every once in while my botfriend and I exchanged smacks.
At 27 I found I couldn't have children.
At 27 my boyfriend gave me his to raise.
At 30 I knew that despite all my boyfriend and I were going through, he was my best friend.
At 34 I married him.
We overcame all the obstacles of abandonment and hurt together.
At this stage in my life,
Nearly 36,
My Husband is my best friend. He knows all my flaws and loves me through them all.
All that I have gone through hasn't weakened me.
It strengthens me!