Terry is an innocent three-year-old when an older cousin sexually molests her. Confused, afraid, and unsure where to turn, Terry keeps her secret to herself, reluctant to tell any of her six siblings or her parents.

With a military father, an unhappy mother, and a loving grandmother, Terry grows up wondering where she fits in, especially when she feels that she should have been born a boy and not a girl. Her turbulent relationship with her mother only fuels her desire to withdraw and find answers to the questions that torment her.

In the midst of it all, she strives to keep peace in a...

As Terry moves on into the next two years of Junior High School, she wonders how to uncover her true nature rather than make sacrifices for the love of her mother.

Maneuvering through obstacles of family chaos, the sudden unexpected death of her closest brother brought forth a host of new challenges.

She took refuge in whispered memories of conversations she had with God and used these inspirations in overcoming the shadows of darkness.

She cautiously prepares herself for the unexpected and moves forward with faith always guiding her path, as she moves on to High School and a...

Terry is now going through the transitional period of adolescence. This is a critical time in any teenagers life but more so for Terry. Having hidden her true nature all her life, she is reluctant to come of age and share her secret. A secret she has hidden from her mother, family and friends. She struggles not to compromise herself and relies on her strong relationship with God as she battles whether to expose herself. She is prepared for the consequences of alienation and bodily harm. When Terry finds an unfinished letter her mother has written, expressing her fears that she is homosexual,...

Miracle has begun her journey from deep within herself to emerge into a meaningful and somewhat happy existence. Exiting the closet door which has been closed shut for most of her life she makes a choice to reveal to family and friends her true self.Being gay is not a crime as she has been told by society, religious institutions and clergy. Nobody knows her relationship with God except God Himself.She sought the support of therapy to learn to heal from childhood tragedies and gain understanding that whatever, whoever she was as a person is not to be denied by anyone.As long as God loves her...

Make no mistake that when a child is molested, the very essence of their being is eternally altered. Depending on their age and experience, as well as the circumstances, the outcome is unpredictable. I was a little more than three and a half years of age, and it took me a lifetime before I could look God in the face again, even though it was fifty years ago this year (summer of 2011). "TERI - How I Forgave God" is my history as I journey from the dungeon of Miracle's soul. I've always referred to her as as my alter ego since I was here first. This is how I claimed back my life, stolen at...