Keynu Scott - The Indomitable Queen

The

Indomitable Queen

A Memoir

Truths of Trauma, Trials,
and Triumphs

Keynu Scott

Copyright 2020 by Keynu Scott

Second Edition, 2020

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or part in any format.

For information regarding bulk purchases of this book, digital purchase, and special discounts, please contact the Author.

Printed in the United States of America

Publisher: Keynu Scott

Disclaimer:

This memoir is based upon a true story. It reflects the authors present recollections of experiences over time. All names have been changed to protect the identity of the characters.

I dedicate The Indomitable Queen to women who have suffered trauma. The ones who have been abused, broken, mistreated, and taken for granted. Allow this book to reveal that hard times do not last and that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.

God, I cant thank you enough. Your faithfulness and mercy to a sinner like me have been so overwhelming. God, you kept me through my lowest times. Thank you for your everlasting love and for always showing me that you have the final say, and youre in control.

Kysen, I couldnt imagine life without you.

You are my light, you are my happiness, and I am very proud to call your handsome self, my son. Your smile, your laugh, and your random hugs and kisses keep me going. I wouldnt trade you for anybody in the world. Everything I do is for you. Im going to make sure you have the best life possible, and Ill try my best to give you a childhood you dont have to heal from. Keep being the bright and energetic boy that you are. Ill always believe in you and have your back no matter what.

I love you!

Title Meaning

INDOMITABLE

indomitable /indmdb()l/ adjective

1. Impossible to subdue or defeat.

Similar: Invincible, Unconquerable, Courageous

Example: A woman of indomitable spirit.

Why did the author name herself The Indomitable Queen?

After all of the obstacles set before her and the many times she wanted to completely give up, she didnt. She adapted to her circumstances and maintained a courageous spirit.

She crowns herself as a queen because, throughout her struggles, she had an insurmountable amount of strength. The trauma and trials she faced took a lot of strength, and she mastered it.

Life hasnt always been easy for me. Ive had many ups and plenty of downs, more downs than I ever imagined. Some changed me for good, some for bad, but to be honest, I wouldnt change any of it. It has formed who I am today, and it has made me stronger in ways I never thought possible. I have a different outlook on life now, and Im striving to get better everyday . Trials and tribulations can come after me, but theyll never knock me down to the point where I wont get back up. Im a survivor, the true definition of one, and now, Im here to tell my story. This is my story, my feelings, all being exposed to my healing. I hope the obstacles and pain I endured is an inspiration for others to overcome any obstacles they are faced with and also speak out on it. We all have a story, some big and some small. Dont stay silent, speak the truth, your truth that is. Go through it, grow through, and glow through it.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

O n December 19, 1991, I was born to my mother, Deidra, and my father, Marquise. They named me Faith. I was a precious baby with caramel skin and pretty curly hair. I came into the world a little over nine months after my parents were married. I was my parents only child they had in common. Before I was born, my mother had my sister with her ex-boyfriend, and my father had my brother with his ex-wife. My sister is 11 years older than me, and my brother is seven years older than me, which made me the baby of the family.

I grew up in Ocala, Florida, in a three-bedroom blue vinyl siding house in the suburbs of the Silver Springs Shores area. It was a nice house that sat by itself, but as the years passed, construction workers began adding houses on the side and across the street from us. We had a large backyard; however, there were no outdoor toys back there for me to play with. There was a garage attached to the house that my dad stored all of his auto tools, lawnmower, and miscellaneous things. My dad used to hunt for land turtles where he would catch them, gut and clean them, and prepare them to be cooked. It was a popular meal in my house, served with a side of white rice and vegetables. Of course, as a child, I was always told to eat what was set in front of me. I didnt have a choice but to do so, or else I would go hungry that day. My parents had a ritual when it came to breakfast and dinner time. Breakfast had to be consumed in the morning time, which would consist of bacon, eggs, grits, and dinner had to be consumed before it got dark. Some meals they would cook were spaghetti, fried chicken with fries, catfish and tilapia fish, pork chops, rutabaga with rice and vegetables, meatloaf, hamburger, and sometimes, corned beef and cabbage. Those are just a few of the meals I recall because they cooked it so often. There was only one type of seasoning that I knew they used, and it was Tony Chacheres Creole seasoning. They used that seasoning on everything that I became familiar with the taste and vowed that when I got older, I would have a variety of seasonings and flavors, not just one. After dinner, my mother and father would either go to their bedroom and rest, which meant for me that I could watch television in the living room or find something to do in my room. Often times, on Sunday nights before my mom had to go to work on Monday morning, she would do my hair. I would sit on the floor on top of a sofa pillow while she brushed and combed my hair, applying hair grease thoroughly as she was getting ready to either braid it into cornrows or pigtails with bows and barrettes. I was so tender-headed and sensitive to the touch that I would scream and cry for my mother to take it easy on my hair. Sometimes, she would yell at me, Girl hush, I aint hurting you, and other times, she would get frustrated and say, Okay, well, you can walk around with your hair all over your head. I had to suck it up, squirm through the pain, and anxiously wait as my mother finished my hair. I didnt want to walk around with my hair all over my head, looking nappy and bringing attention to myself for others to laugh and bully me.

My mother and my father both worked, so when they did, I had to go to my grandmas house. My grandma owned her own home daycare, so she kept me for years, and it saved my parents money. I would always be excited about going to my grandmas house because there were other kids to play with as well as my cousins. I dont recall my parents doing many activities with me that were kid-friendly and involved interactions with other kids outside of daycare. They had only taken me to Disney World, the zoo, and circus once, and occasionally, I would be taken to a neighborhood playground, but it wasnt often that I got to enjoy being a kid in a public play setting. Most of my time as a kid was spent inside the house and sometimes outside of the house in the front yard when they had time to keep a close eye on me. Vividly, I recall the tricycle my parents had bought for me; it was red and shiny, and it had a fanny pack attached to the front. It became my favorite outdoor activity. You couldnt tell me a thing once I got the hang of riding it. I didnt really like being indoors much, so this made me really happy being able to play with it. I preferred being on the go. I was such a busy body little girl with not a care in the world.