I planned on packing up and leaving for a while and I  had it all figured out. I moved in with my boyfriend and his father but things didn't work out between us and I had to leave. I'm not proud to admit this but I stole some of his money and bought a bus ticket to Pennsylvania. I wanted to get as far from my parents as possible because I don't plan on seeing them ever again. I hate my father for robbing me of my childhood and I hate my mother for not believing me even though I never lied to her. 

Once I got to my destination, I had to put my fake ID to use. I bought it from a kid at school. I stayed at a crappy motel because that was all I could afford at the time. I looked through the wanted ads in the paper and found an ad for a dancer, I figured it was going to be in a strip club. I had no problem taking my clothes off for money because I heard strippers make good money. I went in for the interview and got the job right away with the help of my fake ID. I started my first shift the next night. I was nervous and scared because I had never done anything like it before. I just studied what the other dancers were doing and copied them for the most part. I couldn't believe I made over $200 in just a four hour work shift. I needed money bad and I wasn't about to apply at a store or fast food restaurant and make next to nothing. I couldn't depend on anyone's help and I did what I had to do in order to survive without ending up homeless on the streets.

I can't say I really enjoy what I do, but it helped me to be able to get my own apartment and a car. I have come across some really seedy people since I've been stripping but you have to take the good with the bad. I've had a couple older men offer to take care of me so I wouldn't have to strip but I turned them down. I don't want to become anyone's personal slave ever again like I was for my dad. I have no intention of having a relationship with any of these men outside of work either. I have some regular customers who buy me presents and offer to pay my bills and rent but I 'm not interested in being their charity case.

I learned early on that I can only count on myself and I don't need anybody's help. I am currently taking some classes and I plan on doing something else with my life. I really don't want to work as a stripper for much longer.  I hope to one day be a veterinarian and in order to do so I have to keep saving my money. The choices I made weren't easy but I had to do something to be independent. I don't regret what I had to do to in order to get away from my father's abuse and I only wish my mother believed me. No one back home knows what I've been up to and I don't plan on sharing my secret with them.