I suppose the only reason I escaped out the back is because I sensed the danger before it invaded my home. I ran, heard my screen door slam and was deep into the trees where I knew they would never search.

After all, they thought the swamp and its surroundings were simply smelly, a mere nuisance to be drained. But I know there’s more out here. At the very least a hiding place, a secret place. People underestimate what one can accomplish when forced into hiding...

This year, I have learned that magic still exists. I also learned that I have spent a good portion of my life just simply surviving. Partly because some traumatic things happened, but the other reason was because I believed I deserved nothing more than to “just get by.”