Hi, my name is Darla, and I'm from Italy. I often wonder if my life would have turned out differently if I didn't have this scar. 

I was blessed to grow up in a loving family. Dad was a teacher and Mom had an online business so she was always there for me when I needed her.  My family was perfect. But one night my world was turned upside down.

Even though I was five at the time, I remember it like it was yesterday. Mom and Dad were preparing dinner and I was sitting by the kitchen table. Suddenly, a masked man entered the kitchen and Mom grabbed me in front of her. Dad tried to ward off the intruder with the knife in his hand but the intruder snatched me from Mom and threw me into Dad's path. I felt a sharp pain on my face and Mom screamed. 

The relationship with Dad wasn't the same when I was released from the hospital. Dad couldn't bear to stay in the same room that I was in. He no longer looked at me or hugged me. 

One day Dad went to work and he never returned. I was heartbroken and for years I blamed myself. If it wasn't for this ugly scar then maybe Dad would still be around.

As I went through school, kids and teachers were mean about my scar. I tried to make friends but one girl named Charlotte told everyone that I had an infectious disease and nobody wanted to play with me. 

I resorted to wearing a mask in hopes that things may change but it didn't. The last straw was when a teacher placed my lunch in a dog bowl and ordered me to eat it. Mom removed me from the school but she was also able to get the teacher fired. Mom homeschooled me and I was happier than I'd been in a long time.

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