Intro
Viviana book with a poor Mexican girl growing up in early 1990s Long Beach, California. A bright and creative child, she finds solace in books, riot grrrl zines, and cable TV channels like MTV and VH1. Despite her passion for learning and pop culture, she becomes a target of relentless bullying at school for being a "geek." The bullying continues into high school, escalating until she's expelled and placed in two abusive group homes where she endures hunger, violence, and emotional trauma. Eventually, she escapes and returns to live with her grandmother. Determined to rebuild her life, she enrolls at Long Beach City College, where her talent earns her a journalism scholarship. Though still struggling with poverty, she finds joy in music and friendship, attending rock concerts in Hollywood. Now 39, she reflects on her past and dedicates herself to educating young people about the lasting harm caused by bullying in the '90s

But somehow… I survived.

And I believe—deep in my soul—
that my mother helped me from the other side.
She walks with me in dreams.
An angel. A protector.
She speaks to me in the deepest part of the night,
reminding me: You are not alone.

She is why I succeeded in journalism.
Why I won awards.
Why I never gave up, even when the world told me I should.

I miss her so much it aches like a second heartbeat.
But I carry her kindness. I carry her love.
And I carry her legacy in these pages.

Now, at 39, I am still visited by angels.
I am deeply spiritual.
I believe in heaven.
I believe in mercy.
And I believe that every child deserves love, safety, and the chance to live.

That is why I fight.
That is why I speak.
That is why I am pro-life.
Because every baby deserves a chance to breathe.
To laugh.
To dream.

Have faith in God.
Hold tight to hope.
And if you’ve ever felt like no one saw your pain—
know that I did.

I see you.
I hear you.
And this book is for you