Jack V. is a pen name. The woman behind the name chooses to remain anonymous. To explain the name, she asks the reader to imagine what it must feel like to tell the world about their most private inner lives, and then to imagine revealing their identity in the same way. A name is all that she has left to herself in the end. And a man’s name… it creates a sense of ambiguity. It makes the reader uncomfortable in the way the stories are perceived. It is the idea that these stories would make sense if told by a woman; but, many women in the past have tried to tell these exact same stories. And has anything changed? Women’s rights have improved, although slowly and reluctantly. And people are more aware nowadays to inequality and sexual exploitation among the female population. But problems continue to exist. And so maybe, if the story is given by a man, it will create a stir in this seemingly laid to rest topic.

 

Jack V. grew up in a world of chaos and torment. There were moments of joy and adolescent pleasure, but there remained pain, aguish, poverty, suffering, abuse, molestation, sadness, grief, and torment. Her parents were marred with mental disabilities and unable to provide a stable home. She was separated from her biological family and given over to a foster family, social workers, and case workers. Court assigned caretakers often reminded her of her place in the world, as their lesser counterpart, and tried to ignore her. She survived on scraps from dumpsters when food was scarce, and learned to sleep comfortably in a car when there wasn’t a bed. As a teenager, living in inner city Detroit, she was forced to trust men in protecting her. She fought depression and suicide when ravenous hands took liberties with her body. A mentor assigned to her case at age 17, gave her a chance to shine. He knew she was capable of much more than that to which she had been predisposed. She turned to education as a means out of the ghetto, and only ever looked back to thank him.

 

Even though alone, she has learned to walk with faith as her sole guide. She has strength and love, and knows how to give of herself for others. Her final mantra is that love governs all. Love is all that matters.

 

Jack V. currently works in Indiana as a Laboratory Director for an Alternative Cancer Research program. She enjoys spending time with her friends and volunteering time with animals as a means to remember a beloved friend, Vanessa, a Pit bull Terrier.