Comment by Shirley M.on 04 Apr 2009 at 7:46 am

dear karen, during all your childhood years did you have a best friend? If you did, did you share your pain with her? Are you still friends? Someone who hurt as you did must’ve felt all alone. i was reading this book firefly lane and out of nowhere started thinking about you. The story you shared is an important one but i would like to read the real story behind the story you doctor wrote. really, please write your own version. it would be a great asset to accompany switching time.

Dear Shirley,

You ask some very interesting questions? I will try to answer them in the best way possible.

During my childhood I had very few outside friends due to my father not allowing me out of his sight. I did, however, manage to make friends with two girls, each of them did not know of each other, and I maintained both relationships individually. One friend lived down the block and knew me quite well, minus the details of my being abused. Sadly, this friend moved away when I was in the seventh grade. We enjoyed each others friendship but lost contact. I’ve never seen her again.

My second best friend came from grade school. We had known each other from pre-school until college. During grade school, we were together whenever we could be without my father knowing. During high school, we were inseparable. We spent each and every school day together, took many classes together, performed in plays together, and played the same instruments in the band. If one of us was without the other, everyone would asked where the other one was. She knew that things were not so great for me at home. We talked about many things, but out of shame I left out the details. She knew that I was being abused because she saw my bruises.

I also read the book Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah. It was an amazing book! And yes, the friendship of the two girls was similar to my experience with my best friend. I was like Kate, my friend so like Tully. Yet, as different as we were we managed to care for each other. Sadly I haven’t seen her for over thirty years. I have talked with her and we email back and forth at times. Unfortunately, the reality of life changed us. I did not share that I am Karen in the book Switching Time. Maybe some day I will share with her, in person.

What I most admired about Firefly Lane was the story’s purpose, to share awareness of breast cancer.  The story brought awareness to all women who read it and in the same way, it’s my hope for Switching Time to do the same. 

Thank you for asking such thought provoking questions.

Karen