In this heart-wrenchingly sincere and unvarnished memoir, Amara Shores recounts a story of breaking cycles, healing generational trauma, and finding freedom after years of silence. Born into a family still reeling from the generational impact of residential schools, Shores recounts her darkest moments: neglected, abused, left alone to care for herself and her children, and failed utterly by child protection services, by the courts, and by the mental health services that were supposed to be there for her. But no fall would be her last; Shores traces her recovery from addiction, her journey to self-love, and her refusal to continue the cycle of generational trauma and colonial violence with her own children. A real, gritty, but inspiring story of personal growth, resilience, and hope in the face of overwhelming grief and pain. Whether you’ve been in her shoes or hope to better-understand those who have, this story offers honesty, empathy, and the very real possibility of becoming something new.