Zoey Franklin (read below)

My name is Zoey Franklin. I am the adopted daughter of Jim and Susan Franklin. I was adopted from Vietnam and brought to the U.S. when I was only a year old. I have three half-siblings that are all moved out and live far away except one of them. My parents are narcissistic and emotionally abusive to me. For the past three years of my life, it all started to go downhill. When I was 15, I started hanging out with older friends, who introduced me to new substances. I got a boyfriend, so I felt like a cool kid. Later that year, he hit me in the car and choked me. My parents knew this, but I was scared to report it to the police, so they didn’t. I then got caught sneaking out, and they found vapes and alcohol in my room. I was depressed, and I didn’t even try to hide the alcohol and vapes in my room. It was almost as if it was a cry for help. I started self-harming, but my parents never knew. Shortly after, I started getting therapy. Later I started dating a guy whose name was John. John and I were toxic, and my parents didn’t like him. I had done things with him that I shouldn’t have, and of course, I regret the things. I was so codependent on him that I shifted my whole world around him. I was still depressed and never got any help. I started back to self-harming and constantly considered taking my life. After a year of dating, my mom told me she’d give me $1000 to break up with John. I immediately assumed that deal was a way out. I was happy at first, but the feeling was only temporary. It was summer by that time, and I was 17. I was so depressed during the summer. I cried and was very suicidal. Finally, after the school year started, once I was a senior, I started taking medication. I had severe anxiety and depression. My parents tried to help by telling me only to work 4 hours a week. My checks were around $60. They said they’d give me money to help, but they never really did. This stressed me out even more. In December, my new medication made me feel like a zombie, so I went to smoking Delta 8’s at night for anxiety. I did this for a month until the two counteracted, and I was suicidal. I went to the hospital and then was sent to get medical help. Once I got back, my mom threw out half of my closet, and I was basically on lockdown. Things were tense. We started getting into arguments every week. Threats of kicking me out and saying they would text my coach f Finally, today April 9th, 2023, it all went to the bottom. My mom and dad came to my room. We were supposed to leave at 9:30, but I was having stomach issues and was still in the bathroom by then. My mom sat outside the door, and once I got out, she said, “You have 5 minutes” She continued to threaten me. My dad came upstairs, and then they both told me I was kicked out of the house and when they got back, I better be gone. He threw objects at me. They took my car keys and disabled my phone. I’m a minor I have a part-time job. I volunteer, work, am a full-time student and athlete, and intern at a vet. They want me to fall and live miserably. They know I can’t possibly live on my own or provide for myself. The police did come to my house, and they are investigating this. They have seen the texts and the videos of my father throwing things at me and them being emotionally abusive to me. I am done trying to let my life seem perfect and feel the need to come out about this. This is just a piece of what is going on in my life. I’m staying at a safe place for tonight. But I’m not sure what will after the next few days.