General content warning: This is a piece about the crossroads of our current socio-political landscape, through the lens of the author’s upbringing and life experience. Mentions of emotional and physical abuse, rape, religious trauma, gun violence, school shootings, racism & hate crimes, and others. Topics and themes touched on are handled respectfully, but told unflinchingly. W H e a l e r p o n It’s 2005. I am being raised to be a weapon. I’m ten, or so. They split the boys and the girls off...