Haley Quinn

In the third grade we were introduced to writing fictional stories. For homework we had to write one. It was only supposed to be 3 paragraphs, but I ended up making a 12 page book about a vampire rabbit trying to find its family.

When I read my book out loud to the class, seeing the looks of wonder on their faces made me realize that there was nothing more I wanted to do. This was a reason to keep living; the ability to make people Feel, make them feel Alive, take them somewhere else, I had found magic.

It was daydreams and other worlds where I spent my childhood, words becoming a bridge that closed the gap Between those around me. Writing slowly filled my bloodstream, winding itself around my DNA and it was there I found a Home.

My teachers would ask me what I planned on doing with my life, honestly?

Ending it.

The answer I couldn’t ever tell them because I was afraid of being a burden. Since I was a child I never could imagine a future where I survived. The greatest world I could imagine was one where I didn’t have to be in it.

My sisters and that simple dream, writing, were what I’d cling to when those thoughts pulled me down. And it’s to this day, my reason for waking up. Maybe my words, my stories can reach others like me, even people who aren’t like me, and give them something they thought was lost, make them feel not so Alone.

I hope you truly like my books. Thank you for listening to me, for hearing my story.