“Be kind, rewind”

Let’s take a step backwards in time for a moment so I can set the scene and give some
context for this installment of the Rodzilla Chronicles.

I have a brother who is 12 years older than me. As a kid I didn’t see him much because
of that age gap. In fact, I don’t remember much of him during my younger years as a
child. I do however remember his visits from college. One year stands out for reasons
no one could’ve suspected. I was 8 years old; my brother was off at college but was
coming home for his summer break. Usually he came home alone, but this year he
brought along an ole college buddy. This friend of his, at the time, I thought was
awesome. He actually paid attention to me. He would ask me if I wanted to play
Nintendo with him, would ask me about my day, things like that. Now that was weird,
because usually I went unnoticed in my house. At the time I just thought it was cool. We
became friends an 8-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man he’d give me rides to the roller-
skating rink, to the mall, to the park. He was my BFF. Of course, I was sad when the
summer ended, and they went back to school. However, he did end up coming back
and living with us for a year, my brother though, did not, he ended up living at his
girlfriend’s house. This man who was my bff became very close with the family and me.
Again, I thought nothing of it.

Fast forward 8 years. I am now 16 years old. That man 28 years old. He popped back
into our lives unexpectedly and again, in my eyes it was innocent, well until the
innocence was stripped away. Seeing as I knew him so well, I trusted him with my whole
heart, I felt connected to him. We ended up dating, naturally? Right? A romantic
relationship between 16-yr old and a 28 yr old. No one saw a problem with it because
he was a family friend that everyone knew. No one knew what took place behind closed
doors, no one knew the mental abuse that was taking place. Now, looking back I see all
the signs. Of course, now I am a 42-year-old woman and not a 16-year-old girl. We
dated on and off for 6 years, until we got married. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Come back next time to see the stupid game I played and the prizes I walked away
with.