I was lonely.

While most of my classmates could go home and play with their siblings, I played on my own. While my friends picked on their older brothers and sisters until they were blue in the face, I stayed in my room creating characters and their worlds so I could distract myself from the inner and outer feelings of isolation.

While the neighbor kids formed their own groups and discovered undiscovered lands in the woods, I found myself spending my summer days reading on a peeling porch swing.

I was not lucky to have no siblings.

I craved an older brother to one day protect me from any boyfriends that potentially wanted to steal his baby sister away. I wanted an older brother so he could play catch with my dad and I in the yard. I wanted an older brother so I could sit on his tall shoulders during parades and fireworks.

I craved a younger sister so I could be the role model. I wanted her to see me as that annoying older sister that she desperately wanted my attention when I had my friends over.

I am not selfish nor spoiled.

I have and will continue to be grateful for everything I received from my parents. From an early age, I knew that if I wanted something desperately enough my attitude and my actions would dictate my reward. I hyper observed the other kids how they threw tantrums or hissy fits if they did not get the latest this or the newest that. So I made sure never to see my parents crumble under the weight of how my temporary tantrum might lead to more presents.

If I am being honest, I still find young adults, teens, preteens, and even some 20-somethings still willing to throw in that hissy fit if that means getting what they want. I always knew that if I truly wanted something I needed to work for it and honestly for some only children they do get spoiled. I also made sure that whatever I wanted my parents to buy for me was something I actually could use longer than a few hours then get sick of it.

I do not always like having my own space.

It is not that I prefer to be around dozens of people in order to be happy but I actually enjoy spending time alone so I can regroup and spend time alone. As someone who loves to read and write (both solitary pursuits), I cherish these times so I can just recharge and spend a little (sometimes more than a few hours) time in other characters' worlds and realities. I also sometimes allow myself to get consumed by these worlds where I start fantasizing about what would happen if they were in my world.

I am independent.

I have always been one to be outside the box and try things on my own. I have chosen a career that makes me both happy and active in learning about the world I choose to surround myself in. I chose this career so I could not be tied down to a desk all day but in fact learn from the people, places, and art all around me every day.

I think I would be a completely different person if I wasn't an only child, but by being one I have become close with two of my closest and best friends, mom and dad. And I would not change our relationship for anything.