Some children grow up with a name. Others grow up with a name and an asterisk—a quiet footnote that shapes identity, belonging, and self-worth. This Step 2 entry explores how the “asterisk child” learns to overexplain and how healing begins when you reclaim the whole story.

A Step 5 reflection on the pattern of loving men who loved my silence. This piece explores self-abandonment, emotional clarity, and choosing relationships that honor your voice.