Describe the one who got away. #postaday2011

I know what this prompt is asking me to write about - but I refuse. Let me explain. The one who got away isn't someone else, it is me. Partly because of the way I was raised to be - both as a member of my family and also as a female in this society - I got lost for the many years of my life. I was the one that got away because I thought I had to give myself away in order to be: a friend, girlfriend, employee, student, etc. When life got painful enough and I was "away" long enough, I was fortunate enough to find myself again. This wasn't easy - it took years. Things that moved this re-emergence was raising two children, re-entering higher education, and a lot of fear. I recall the day vividly that I looked at myself in the mirror and recognized myself. It scared me to discover myself at the age of 33 years of age - and at the same time it was exhilarating to reappear! Because I was the one that got away - I've worked hard at raising my children to honor and respect themselves. At times I can slip back into ways that don't serve me well and usually it is one of my two children that point this out to me.