Changes Bruce David Winfrey

According to a British newspaper, The Mirror, “Four babies a day are born addicted to heroin, crack cocaine and other drugs, shocking figures revealed [that’s about 7,800 crack babies since 2009].” I was one of these children; born in Miami: no tears, mute from the beginning. At birth, I was addicted to cocaine from the dangerous habits of my birth mom. I had two siblings whom I loved greatly; both were taken from me at the age of three. Although they were gone, I constantly reminded myself what I loved about them. For years I was alone, forever feeling like a mistake.

At the age of four my life was full of the sound of police cars, generating blood red walls caked with green splotches. This happened every other day and brought with it the lurking chills I experienced knowing danger was right outside my 4x4 glass window. Every day at 5:00 am, I would quickly get dressed in torn school clothes marked with paint and dirt, but with brand new Nikes to top it all off; then make my way to preschool. At home however, I was mistreated, abused, and beaten daily, but I had to stay strong. Until I was five I feared for my life, not being able to sleep some nights. With every mistake I made, it seemed as if my birth parents would find a...