Was I born unlucky or was I just too naïve? I was so young, barely old enough to understand the world and its cruelty while surrounded by people who took advantage of that. This is a story of how my innocence was exploited by the needs and selfishness of everyone around me and how I used my pretend life to overcome the obstacles I faced. I have miraculously made it into my senior years and can proudly relay how I survived a life that was riddled with great challenges and sadness. I am amazed by the capacity of the mind to create survival mechanisms and thankful to share the importance of perseverance. | A Pretend Life a True Story by Pushpa Pushpa, Paperback | Indigo Chapters