Without the ability to write, my life would become too silent. Without an avenue to express my emotions, my questions, each day would become void. Without an audience to hear me, my words would become prisoners inside of me. This is my poetry.

Over the years, I have been hesitant, afraid, and ashamed to say what has been on my heart. Often times, the words end up on paper and stay confined in a notebook buried in a drawer. No longer. Today, I speak clearly. Without fear of reproach, isolation, or confrontation. My role is simply to give the message. Speak is my second collection of writing. It features poetry, including Skin and My Last Prayer and short stories like Just a Fan and The Judge. Short scripts (Too Cold for Meowing), essays (A History of Blood), and personal stories like Escaping Pornography are also included. My goal in this book is to be more transparent as an individual in order to help and inspire others. Most of the work was written between 2012 and 2013. It gives the reader a clearer view of who I am today along with the message I want to share.