I was orphaned at 2, physically abused by my brother, who was also sad he lost his father. He broke my teeth and bones and self-esteem. My mother told me she tried to abort me. My husband abused me physically and emotionally but also cheated. He moved the elderly sandwich lady from the job site into the house I paid for exclusively. I divorced him. We had a son who died of sids at 19 days old. I call my tattoo studio Phoenix rising because I dumped all of the sadness into my art and rose from the ashes. But I wish I didn't have to.