But now I was a grown woman. More than a fourth of my life was gone, assuming that I would live a normal life span. When my father was my age, his life was three-quarters gone. I was ready to start my own life, have my own family. After this baby, when people asked, 'Do you have a family?' I would say yes and tell them about Dwayne and the baby. I would not mention my mother, or my sister, or the ones who were dead. I could answer without acknowledging any of them and this would not be a lie.