1 Prologue

Since the tender age of four, my world twisted into an unrecognizable maze, shattering the innocence I once held dear. The familiar warmth faded, snatched away by those around me, leaving a void that ached with the absence of a nurturing family.

Darkness eclipsed the light, obscuring my vision as grasping hands dragged me into an abyss, their haunting melodies drowning out my desperate cries for help. My fingers clutched at the shifting sands, but rescue remained elusive in my bleak solitude. Exhaustion dulled my resistance until, inevitably, I plummeted into the void.

Early on, I learned the reality of my mother's profession. Her occupation sustained our modest two-bedroom apartment, yet my presence never found a place in her world. Though she granted me life, she never acknowledged me as her daughter. It pained me to reconcile with the truth. Countless nights were spent in confusion and anger, a testament to my existence in a world where I felt unwanted.

Little was disclosed about my father. 

He remained an unnamed figure, allegedly one among the many patrons who crossed paths with my mother. He fled upon learning of her pregnancy, leaving me fatherless and her burdened with my care. She persisted in keeping me, yet her nurturing was absent; she treated me more like a friend than a child, leaving me yearning for the love of a parent.

Television narratives portrayed heroes swooping in at the eleventh hour to save the day. But in my harsh reality, such heroes didn't exist. Despite the darkness, I found solace in a band of friends—fellow souls abandoned or unwanted by their parents. Among them, I found belonging, and learning the essence of loyalty, love, and respect. Only with them did I experience life's vibrancy amidst the desolation.

They were my lifelines, showing me the value of existence and the resilience to navigate life's trials unaided. Through them, I discovered the strength within myself; I didn't require a hero or the persona of a villain to triumph. I stood firm on my own, a testament to my resilience.