Lori Hill sits across from me at exactly 7:25, sighing deeply with great sorrow. "What do you regret most in your life?" She looks down at her hands for a moment, then opens her mouth to begin talking. "I wouldn’t say I regret anything. Sure, there are many decisions and occasions that I wish I had done differently, but what’s done is done, and without those decisions, I wouldn't be who I am today." "Sometimes all the hardships and struggles in life help shape us for something better." "I am enduring, not resentful." I sat down and lost myself in her response, but she spoke again, breaking my silence."When I was young, I never had the chance to wallow in pity. "Things happened so fast that I didn’t have the time to feel bad for myself." On October 21st, 1973, Lori Hill watched her father murder her mother one gruesome Sunday morning. She was only 6 years old. "I saw the whole thing happen before my eyes, but by the time I realized what had happened, she was already dead." Shortly after, Lori was sent to live with her abusive grandmother, who despised her because, unlike her other sisters, only she carried the blood of her murderous father. For 7 years, she would suffer …show more content…
She would have days she could barely feed herself or do any basic hygiene, but still, she persevered. In the year 1981, Lori learned of the process of emancipation. She was still in high school, but for the first time, she found herself with a newfound hope. This would be her way out to a better future. She was able to speak with a judge and negotiate emancipation as long as she completed her diploma and AA degree.Lori quickly began working a part-time job to save up money, all while struggling to graduate early from school. She focused all her time and energy on ensuring her freedom so that when she turned 16 and graduated with her diploma, she would have earned her